Age-related macular degeneration refers to a group of diseases in which the macula of people over 50 years of age develops vitreous warts and map-like atrophy, and is combined with choroidal neovascularization and the resulting hemorrhage, exudation, edema, neuroepithelial detachment, pigment epithelial detachment and other lesions, resulting in the patient’s vision loss.
It is the leading cause of irreversible central vision impairment in people over 50 years of age in Western countries.
The structure of the eye can be simply described as a camera, with the retina being the equivalent of the film part, which acts as a light sensor. The macula is a special structure located at the center of the posterior pole of the retina with a diameter of about 1.5 mm. It is the most acute and critical part of human vision, and its functions are mainly: fine vision, color vision, including our daily TV watching and newspaper reading. Once the macula is damaged, the vision will be severely damaged, and the visual acuity is mostly below 0.3.
What are the risk factors?
1.Age: The older the age, the higher the incidence, and over 50 years old is the high population.
2.Gender: Generally women are 2 times more likely than men.
3, medical history: history of hypertension, heart disease.
4.Family history
5.Light iris pigmentation, excessively transparent crystal, no crystal, etc.
6, Smoking, frequent exposure to blue light and bright light.
7.Lack of carotene.
What are the manifestations?
In the early stage, there is often no feeling, and the doctor examines the fundus and finds vitreous warts in the macula. As the disease progresses, there may be exudation, hemorrhage, scarring and other changes in the macula, at which time the patient’s visual acuity decreases sharply, and symptoms such as central vision blurred and visual distortion appear. If severe hemorrhage occurs, it can lead to large accumulation of blood in the vitreous cavity or subretina, and vision can be completely lost.
What tests are required?
1.Visual acuity examination, dilated fundus examination;
2.Amsler’s table examination method: it shows the central dark spot or square deformation.
3.OCT examination: It helps to identify the neovascularization and the site of hemorrhage.
4.Fundus fluorescence angiography and choroidal fluorescence angiography.
How to prevent? Antioxidants may have a little significance in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration. Appropriate supplementation of lutein, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, etc. is recommended.
In addition, quit smoking, low-fat diet, eat more fish, wear hats and sunglasses when going out to reduce damage to the eyes, etc.
How to treat wet age-related macular degeneration after it occurs?
Vitreous cavity injection of ralizumab (Lucentis), PDT therapy (photodynamic therapy) or combination therapy.