![\"\"](\"http:\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/makool-1.jpg\")
This is an eye disease which damages the central, most important part of the retina – the macula. The macula, also known as yellow spot, plays a key role in ensuring healthy vision. All the photoreceptors are located there that allow you to see the world around us clearly and brightly. It is thanks to the macula that we are able to read, distinguish colors, drive a vehicle. When the macula is damaged, visual functions deteriorate and visual acuity declines.<\/p>\n
The most common cause of macular degeneration<\/strong> (loss of functional characteristics of the macula) is ageing changes in the body, particularly in the eye.<\/p>\n Age-related macular degeneration<\/strong> is one of the leading causes of visual impairment and vision loss in people aged 50 and older. In recent years, ophthalmologists note that the disease is happening to younger adults more and more often.<\/p>\n This disease leads to slow, painless and irreversible vision loss. In rare cases, the disease has a sudden onset and progresses rapidly. With timely eye exams, an ophthalmologist is able to recognize signs of the disease even before a patient`s visual acuity begins to decline, and prescribe the correct treatment that would stop disease progression. That is why it is very important to see your eye doctor once a year for a preventive eye examination.<\/p>\n This disease is so dangerous because loss of central vision can occur very quickly, which, in its turn, leads to loss of general work ability. Severity of the disease depends on a form of the age-related macular degeneration (AMD).<\/p>\n There are two main forms of AMD: \u201cdry\u201d and \u201cwet\u201d The wet form<\/strong><\/em> of macular degeneration is much less common, but the progression of this type of the disease is rapid. New blood vessels, fragile and easily permeable, begin to form and grow. These vessels seek to restore nutrient delivery to the macula, but, being defective, they cause bleeding and swelling of nearby tissues, which leads to damage to photosensitive receptor cells of the retina. The disease progresses rapidly and leads to severe visual impairment.<\/p>\n The main cause is ageing changes in the body. With age, the prevalence rate increases dramatically. After the age of 75, this macular degeneration is diagnosed in every third patient. Even so, there are a number of factors that affect the development of this condition.<\/p>\n Qualified doctors of Okomedikas Clinic have access to the latest technologies and equipment which allow them to recognize even the slightest degree of impaired retinal function. The retinal examination is painless and contactless.<\/p>\n The sooner macular degeneration is detected and the right treatment is prescribed, the higher the chances of improving and maintaining the eyesight are.<\/p>\n Depending on a form of macular degeneration, laser-assisted conservative surgery or surgical treatment is prescribed. This is decided by an ophthalmologist after a comprehensive eye exam.<\/p>\n A laser-assisted conservative surgery of age-related macular degeneration<\/strong><\/em> is aimed at increasing retinal metabolism, as well as ridding the body of accumulated sludge and toxins.<\/p>\n A surgical treatment of age-related macular degeneration<\/strong> involves injecting the drugs into the vitreous body that help reduce macular edema.<\/p>\n It is possible to slow down ageing changes in your body and eyes, if you seriously start taking care of your health. Here are some simple but effective tips to maintain healthy eyes.<\/p>\n This is an eye disease which damages the central, most important part of the retina – the macula.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3391,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"class_list":["post-5139","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"Symptoms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration<\/h2>\n
\nThe early symptoms of age-related macular degeneration are the following:<\/p>\n\n
Forms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration<\/h2>\n
\nThe dry form<\/strong><\/em> is found in approximately 90% of patients with age-related macular degeneration. Slow but progressive atrophy of the macula characterizes the dry form of AMD. In this case, vision loss progresses slowly.<\/p>\nCauses of Age-Related Macular Degeneration<\/h2>\n
\n
Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Diagnosis and Treatment<\/h2>\n
Prevention of Age-Related Macular Degeneration<\/h2>\n
\n