The National Eye Institute states that
age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual loss in
America. According to their statics,
close to 2.1 million people
50 years and older had macular degeneration in 2010. That number is expected to more than double
by 2050. The Centers
for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) say approximately 6.5 percent of
Americans age 40 and above have some degree of the disease.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
occurs most often after age 60 and causes loss in the center of the field of
vision. The two types of macular degeneration include dry macular degeneration
that causes the center of the retina to begin to deteriorate. In wet macular degeneration, new blood
vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid. Unusually fuzzy or distorted vision is one
symptom and the dry form (85 to 90 percent of AMD cases) is more common than
the wet form. Wet macular degeneration
typically leads to more serious vision loss.
The degeneration of the macula affects
our ability to read, recognize faces, drive, and many other visual tasks that
requires us to see fine detail. As the
condition progresses, the areas of blurred vision may increase and blank spots
may appear.
The good news is that patients with
dry AMD are less likely to go blind than in the past with today’s treatment
options that include a specific combination of high-dose vitamins and minerals. Dr. Peter Campbell, a retina specialist, says
that “Prompt recognition of macular degeneration is important to avoid it
advancing to the point where failing central vision means people can no longer
recognize faces.” The most important
advice he gives is for people over 60 to get regular eye exams. Risks for the disease include age, smoking
and family history.
At MorningStar at Bear Creek, our
community is devoted to providing assisted living for dementia
residents. Our memory care is based on
our extensive knowledge and experience with dementia-related
diseases and we support residents from the early onset of the
disease through the final stages. Please
visit our website to learn more.
This post is intended for informational purposes only. Please contact your health care provider with
any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.
Source:health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2018-02-23/macular-degeneration-managing-this-vision-condition
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