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Macular Degeneration Information

Age related macular degeneration is a medical condition which usually affects older adults that results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula) because of damage to the retina. It occurs in “dry” and “wet” forms. It is a major cause of visual impairment in older adults (>50 years).[1] Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although enough peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily life.

The inner layer of the eye is the retina, which contains nerves that communicate sight; behind the retina is the choroid, which contains the blood supply to the macula (the central part of the retina). In the dry (nonexudative) form, cellular debris called drusen accumulate between the retina and the choroid, and the retina can become detached. In the wet (exudative) form, which is more severe, blood vessels grow up from the choroid behind the retina, and the retina can also become detached. It can be treated with laser coagulation, and with medication that stops and sometimes reverses the growth of blood vessels.[2][3]

Although some macular dystrophies affecting younger individuals are sometimes referred to as macular degeneration, the term generally refers to age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD).

Age-related macular degeneration begins with characteristic yellow deposits in the macula (central area of the retina, which provides detailed central vision, called the fovea) called drusen between the retinal pigment epithelium and the underlying choroid. Most people with these early changes (referred to as age-related maculopathy) have good vision. People with drusen can go on to develop advanced AMD. The risk is considerably higher when the drusen are large and numerous and associated with disturbance in the pigmented cell layer under the macula. Recent research suggests that large and soft drusen are related to elevated cholesterol deposits and may respond to cholesterol-lowering agents.

Researchers from the University of Southampton reported October 7, 2008 that they had discovered six mutations of the gene SERPING1 that are associated with AMD. Mutations in this gene can also cause hereditary angioedema.[4]

Advanced AMD, which is responsible for profound vision loss but never total blindness, has two forms: dry and wet.

Contents

Classification

Dry AMD

Central geographic atrophy, the “dry” form of advanced AMD, results from atrophy to the retinal pigment epithelial layer below the retina, which causes vision loss through loss of photoreceptors (rods and cones) in the central part of the eye. While no treatment is available for this condition, vitamin supplements with high doses of antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, have been suggested by the National Eye Institute and others to slow the progression of dry macular degeneration and, in some patients, improve visual acuity.[5]

Wet AMD

Neovascular or exudative AMD, the “wet” form of advanced AMD, causes vision loss due to abnormal blood vessel growth (choroidal neovascularization) in the choriocapillaris, through Bruch's membrane, ultimately leading to blood and protein leakage below the macula. Bleeding, leaking, and scarring from these blood vessels eventually cause irreversible damage to the photoreceptors and rapid vision loss if left untreated.

Until recently, no effective treatments were known for wet macular degeneration. However, new drugs, called anti-angiogenics or anti-VEGF (anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) agents, can cause regression of the abnormal blood vessels and improvement of vision when injected directly into the vitreous humor of the eye. The injections can be painful and frequently have to be repeated on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Examples of these agents include ranibizumab (trade name Lucentis), bevacizumab (trade name Avastin, a close chemical relative of ranibizumab) and pegaptanib (trade name Macugen). Only ranibizumab and pegaptanib are approved by the FDA for AMD as of April 2007. Bevacizumab is approved, but for other indications. Pegaptanib (Macugen) has been found to have benefits in neovascular AMD. Worldwide, bevacizumab has been used extensively despite its "off label" status. The cost of ranibizumab (Lucentis) is approximately US$2000 per treatment while the cost of bevacizumab (Avastin) is approximately US$150 per treatment. Both drugs are made by Genentech.

Photodynamic therapy has also been used to treat wet AMD.[6]

Signs and symptoms

The Amsler Grid Test is one of the simplest and most effective methods for patients to monitor the health of the macula. The Amsler Grid is, in essence, a pattern of intersecting lines (identical to graph paper) with a black dot in the middle. The central black dot is used for fixation (a place for the eye to stare at). With normal vision, all lines surrounding the black dot will look straight and evenly spaced with no missing or odd looking areas when fixating on the grid's central black dot. When there is disease affecting the macula, as in macular degeneration, the lines can look bent, distorted and/or missing. See a video on how to use an Amsler grid here: [1] and watch an animation showing the Amsler grid with macular degeneration here: [2]. A copy of an Amsler grid that is suitable for printing can be downloaded here:[3].

Macular degeneration by itself will not lead to total blindness. For that matter, only a very small number of people with visual impairment are totally blind. In almost all cases, some vision remains. Other complicating conditions may possibly lead to such an acute condition (severe stroke or trauma, untreated glaucoma, etc.), but few macular degeneration patients experience total visual loss.[9] The area of the macula comprises about 5% of the retina and is responsible for about 35% of the visual field. The remaining 65% (the peripheral field) remains unaffected by the disease.[10]

The loss of central vision profoundly affects visual functioning. It is not possible, for example, to read without central vision. Pictures that attempt to depict the central visual loss of macular degeneration with a black spot do not really do justice to the devastating nature of the visual loss. This can be demonstrated by printing letters 6 inches high on a piece of paper and attempting to identify them while looking straight ahead and holding the paper slightly to the side. Most people find this difficult to do.

There is a loss off contrast sensitivity, so that contours, shadows, and color vision are less vivid. The loss in contrast sensitivity can be quickly and easily measured by a contrast sensitivity test performed either at home or by an eye specialist.

Similar symptoms with a very different etiology and different treatment can be caused by Epiretinal membrane or macular pucker or leaking blood vessels in the eye.

Cause

Diagnosis

Fluorescein angiography allows for the identification and localization of abnormal vascular processes. Optical coherence tomography is now used by most ophthalmologists in the diagnosis and the followup evaluation of the response to treatment by using either Avastin or Lucentis, which are injected into the vitreous of the eye at various intervals.

Management

Nutritional supplements

Some evidence supports a reduction in the risk of age-related macular degeneration with increasing intake of two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin[28] and a large clinical trial is still ongoing to see if they can influence the progression of this disease.[29]

Even so, Cochrane Database Review found that the use of vitamin and mineral supplements, alone or in combination, by the general population had no effect on age-related macular degeneration,[30] a finding echoed by another review.[31] A Cochrane Review of the effects of vitamins and minerals on the slowing of ARMD found that positive results mainly came from a single large trial in the United States (the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, with funding from the eye care product company Bausch & Lomb who also manufactured the supplements used in the study[32]), and questioned the generalization of the data to any other populations with different nutritional status. The review also questioned the possible harm of such supplements, given the increased risk of lung cancer in smokers with high intakes of beta-Carotene, and the increased risk of heart failure in at-risk populations who consume high levels of vitamin E supplements.[33]

Consuming omega-3 fatty acids has been correlated with a reduced progression of early ARMD, and in conjunction with low glycemic index foods, with reduced progression of advanced ARMD.[34]

Prognosis

Composer Josef Tal, an Israeli composer who has been affected by macular degeneration, checks a manuscript using a CCTV desktop unit.

Macular degeneration can advance to legal blindness and inability to drive. It can also result in difficulty or inability to read or see faces.

Adaptive devices can help people read. These include magnifying glasses, special eyeglass lenses, and computer screen readers such as JAWS for Windows. One of the simplest to use assistive technology for low vision is known as a desktop unit. Desktop systems are perfect for extended periods of reading and writing. These units consist of a CCTV, monitor and a movable XY table. The camera is aimed at a book and enables the user to zoom-in and magnify the printed material to the size he can read. Accessible publishing also aims to provide a variety of fonts and formats for published books to make reading easier. This includes much larger fonts for printed books, patterns to make tracking easier, audiobooks and DAISY books with both text and audio.

With internet text easily cut-and-pasted into other applications, a very simple process can make reading far easier for patients with ARMD. Inverting the text (changing black-on-white to white-on-black) almost eliminates the problem of excessive bright light surrounding the letters, while increasing font size further reduces it. The author of this paragraph routinely reads internet articles by doing this, as follows:

1. Click "select all" (Ctrl-A) in Windows, to highlight the article or text.

2. Copy (Crtl-C) and-paste (Ctrl-V) the article into Notepad, to reduce the article to plain text, for easy copying.

3. Copy the text again in Notepad, then paste it into Microsoft Word, or similar application.

4. Increase the font size, say to 24-point type.

5. Change the background color of the document to black, and the font color to white. Using a special "template" document for this purpose eliminates the step of having to reformat each new document.

Another alternative that achieves the same result is squinting, as it also reduces the surrounding bright light. Individuals who find it impossible to read normal text can extend the life of their ability to read by many years, with this simple adjustment.

Because the peripheral vision is not affected, people with macular degeneration can learn to use their remaining vision to continue most activities.[35] Assistance and resources are available in many countries and every state in the U.S.[36] Classes for "independent living" are given and some technology can be obtained from a state department of rehabilitation.

Epidemiology

Disability-adjusted life year for macular degeneration and other (sense organ diseases) per 100,000 inhabitants in 2004.[37] no data less than 100 100-114 114-128 128-142 142-156 156-170 170-184 184-198 198-212 212-226 226-240 more than 240

See also

External links

Listen to this article (info/dl) This audio file was created from a revision of Macular degeneration dated 2005-07-19, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. (Audio help) More spoken articles

References

  1. ^ Thompson, Dennis. "New Treatments Hold Hope for Failing Eyes". Yahoo! News. September 27, 2009.
  2. ^ de Jong PT (2006). "Age-related macular degeneration". N Engl J Med. 355 (14): 1474–1485. doi:10.1056/NEJMra062326. PMID 17021323.
  3. ^ Ch. 25, Disorders of the Eye, Jonathan C. Horton, in Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 16th ed.
  4. ^ Hirschler, Ben (2008-10-07). "Gene discovery may help hunt for blindness cure". Reuters. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081007/sc_nm/us_blindness_gene. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  5. ^ Tan JS, Wang JJ, Flood V, Rochtchina E, Smith W, Mitchell P. (February 2008). "Dietary antioxidants and the long-term incidence of age-related macular degeneration: the Blue Mountain Eye Study". Ophthalmology. 115 (2): 334–41. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2007.03.083. PMID 17664009.
  6. ^ http://www.hta.ac.uk/execsumm/summ709.shtml "Clinical effectiveness and cost–utility of photodynamic therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and economic evaluation"
  7. ^ http://www.revoptom.com/index.asp?page=2_14021.htm
  8. ^ http://www.medcompare.com/spotlight.asp?spotlightid=175
  9. ^ Roberts, DL (September 2006). "The First Year--Age Related Macular Degeneration". (Marlowe & Company): 100.
  10. ^ Roberts, DL (September 2006). "The First Year--Age Related Macular Degeneration". (Marlowe & Company): 20.
  11. ^ a b http://www.agingeye.net/maculardegen/maculardegeninformation.php
  12. ^ Yang Z, Camp NJ, Sun H, Tong Z, Gibbs D, Cameron DJ, Chen H, Zhao Y, Pearson E, Li X, Chien J, Dewan A, Harmon J, Bernstein PS, Shridhar V, Zabriskie NA, Hoh J, Howes K, Zhang K. "A variant of the HTRA1 gene increases susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration." Science. 2006 Nov 10;314(5801):992-3. PMID 17053109.
  13. ^ Dewan A, Liu M, Hartman S, Zhang SS, Liu DT, Zhao C, Tam PO, Chan WM, Lam DS, Snyder M, Barnstable C, Pang CP, Hoh J. "A variant of the HTRA1 gene increases susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration". Science. 2006 Nov 10;314(5801):989-92. PMID 17053108
  14. ^ http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/279/5354/1107a "ABCR Gene and Age-Related Macular Degeneration " Science. 1998
  15. ^ Yates JR, Sepp T, Matharu BK, Khan JC, Thurlby DA, Shahid H, Clayton DG, Hayward C, Morgan J, Wright AF, Armbrecht AM, Dhillon B, Deary IJ, Redmond E, Bird AC, Moore AT (2007). "Complement C3 Variant and the Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration". N Engl J Med. 357 (6): 553–561. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa072618. PMID 17634448.
  16. ^ Maller JB, Fagerness JA, Reynolds RC, Neale BM, Daly MJ, Seddon JM (2007). "Variation in Complement Factor 3 is Associated with Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration". Nature Genetics 39 (10): 1200–1201. doi:10.1038/ng2131. PMID 17767156.
  17. ^ John Paul SanGiovanni, ScD; Emily Y. Chew, MD; Traci E. Clemons, PhD; Matthew D. Davis, MD; Frederick L. Ferris III, MD; Gary R. Gensler, MS; Natalie Kurinij, PhD; Anne S. Lindblad, PhD; Roy C. Milton, PhD; Johanna M. Seddon, MD; and Robert D. Sperduto, MD (May 5, 2007). "The Relationship of Dietary Lipid Intake and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Case-Control Study". Archives of Ophthalmology. http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/125/5/671.
  18. ^ Macular degeneration Types and Risk Factors
  19. ^ "Melanin aggregation and polymerization: possible implications in age related macular degeneration." Ophthalmic Research, 2005; volume 37: pages 136-141.
  20. ^ John Lacey, "Harvard Medical signs agreement with Merck to develop potential therapy for macular degeneration", 23-May-2006
  21. ^ Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. "Risk factors associated with age-related macular degeneration. A case-control study in the age-related eye disease study: Age-Related Eye Disease Study Report Number 3." Ophthalmology. 2000 Dec;107(12):2224-32. PMID 11097601.
  22. ^ Clemons TE, Milton RC, Klein R, Seddon JM, Ferris FL 3rd; Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. "Risk factors for the incidence of Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) AREDS report no. 19." Ophthalmology. 2005 Apr;112(4):533-9. PMID 15808240.
  23. ^ Khan, JC; Shahid H, Thurlby DA, Bradley M, Clayton DG, Moore AT, Bird AC, Yates JR, Genetic Factors in AMD Study (January 2006). "Age related macular degeneration and sun exposure, iris colour, and skin sensitivity to sunlight". The British Journal of Ophthalmology 90 (1): 29–32. doi:10.1136/bjo.2005.073825. PMID 16361662.
  24. ^ Glazer-Hockstein, C; Dunaief JL (January 2006). "Could blue light-blocking lenses decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration?". Retina 26 (1): 1–4. doi:10.1097/00006982-200601000-00001. PMID 16395131.
  25. ^ Margrain, TH; Boulton M, Marshall J, Sliney DH (September 2004). "Do blue light filters confer protection against age-related macular degeneration?". Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 23 (5): 523–31. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2004.05.001. PMID 15302349.
  26. ^ Roberts, D (September 2005). "Artificial Lighting and the Blue Light Hazard". Macular Degeneration Support Online Library http://www.mdsupport.org/library/hazard.html#blue.
  27. ^ Smoking and age-related macular degeneration: a review of association
  28. ^ Carpentier S, Knaus M, Suh M (2009). "Associations between lutein, zeaxanthin, and age-related macular degeneration: An overview". Critical reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 49 (4): 313–326. doi:10.1080/10408390802066979. PMID 19234943.
  29. ^ "Age-related eye disease study 2". http://www.areds2.org/. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
  30. ^ Evans JR, Henshaw K (2008). "Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age-related macular degeneration". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1): CD000253. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000253.pub2. PMID 18253971.
  31. ^ Evans J (June 2008). "Antioxidant supplements to prevent or slow down the progression of AMD: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Eye 22 (6): 751–60. doi:10.1038/eye.2008.100. PMID 18425071.
  32. ^ SanGiovanni, JP (2009-01-21). "Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)". ClinicalTrials.gov. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00000145. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  33. ^ Evans JR; Evans, Jennifer R (2006). "Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD000254. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000254.pub2. PMID 16625532.
  34. ^ Chiu CJ, Klein R, Milton RC, Gensler G, Taylor A (June 2009). "Does eating particular diets alter risk of age-related macular degeneration in users of the age-related eye disease study supplements?". Br J Ophthalmol 93 (9): 1241–6. doi:10.1136/bjo.2008.143412. PMID 19508997.
  35. ^ http://www.mdsupport.org/lvrehab.html
  36. ^ http://www.mdsupport.org/resource_index.html
  37. ^ "WHO Disease and injury country estimates". World Health Organization. 2009. http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/estimates_country/en/index.html. Retrieved Nov. 11, 2009.
Eye disease · pathology of the eye (H00-H59, 360-379)
Adnexa

eyelid: inflammation (Stye, Chalazion, Blepharitis) · Entropion · Ectropion · Lagophthalmos · Blepharochalasis · Ptosis · Blepharophimosis · Xanthelasma · eyelash (Trichiasis, Madarosis)

lacrimal system: Dacryoadenitis · Epiphora · Dacryocystitis · Xerophthalmia

orbit: Exophthalmos · Enophthalmos · Orbital cellulitis

conjunctiva: Conjunctivitis (Allergic conjunctivitis) · Pterygium · Pinguecula · Subconjunctival hemorrhage
Globe
Fibrous tunic sclera: Scleritis cornea: Keratitis (Herpetic keratitis, Acanthamoeba keratitis, Fungal keratitis) · Corneal ulcer · Snow blindness · Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy · Corneal dystrophy (Fuchs', Meesmann) · Keratoconus · Keratoconjunctivitis sicca · Arc eye · Keratoconjunctivitis · Corneal neovascularization · Kayser-Fleischer ring · Arcus senilis · Band keratopathy
Vascular tunic
Iris and ciliary body Iritis · Uveitis (Intermediate uveitis) · Iridocyclitis · Hyphema · Rubeosis iridis · Persistent pupillary membrane · Iridodialysis · Synechia
Choroid Choroideremia · Choroiditis (Chorioretinitis)
Lens Cataract · Aphakia · Ectopia lentis
Retina Retinitis (Chorioretinitis, Cytomegalovirus retinitis) · Retinal detachment · Retinoschisis · Ocular ischemic syndrome/Central retinal vein occlusion · Retinopathy (Bietti's crystalline dystrophy, Coats disease, Diabetic retinopathy, Hypertensive retinopathy, Retinopathy of prematurity) · Macular degeneration · Retinitis pigmentosa · Retinal haemorrhage · Central serous retinopathy · Macular edema · Epiretinal membrane · Macular pucker · Vitelliform macular dystrophy · Leber's congenital amaurosis · Birdshot chorioretinopathy
Other Glaucoma/Ocular hypertension · Floater · Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy · Red eye · Keratomycosis · Phthisis bulbi
Pathways
Optic nerve and visual pathways Optic neuritis · Papilledema · Optic atrophy · Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy · Dominant optic atrophy · Optic disc drusen · Glaucoma · Toxic and nutritional optic neuropathy · Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Ocular muscles, binocular movement, accommodation and refraction

Paralytic strabismus: Ophthalmoparesis · Progressive external ophthalmoplegia · Palsy (III, IV, VI) · Kearns-Sayre syndrome Other strabismus: Esotropia/Exotropia · Hypertropia · Heterophoria (Esophoria, Exophoria) · Brown's syndrome · Duane syndrome Other binocular: Conjugate gaze palsy · Convergence insufficiency · Internuclear ophthalmoplegia · One and a half syndrome

Refractive error: Hyperopia/Myopia · Astigmatism · Anisometropia/Aniseikonia · Presbyopia
Visual disturbances and blindness Amblyopia · Leber's congenital amaurosis · Subjective (Asthenopia, Hemeralopia, Photophobia, Scintillating scotoma) · Diplopia · Scotoma · Anopsia (Binasal hemianopsia, Bitemporal hemianopsia, Homonymous hemianopsia, Quadrantanopia) · Color blindness (Achromatopsia, Dichromacy, Monochromacy) · Nyctalopia (Oguchi disease) · Blindness/Low vision
Pupil Anisocoria · Argyll Robertson pupil · Marcus Gunn pupil · Adie syndrome · Miosis · Mydriasis · Cycloplegia
Other Nystagmus
Eye infections Trachoma · Onchocerciasis

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Categories: Visual disturbances and blindness | Disorders of choroid and retina

 

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macular degeneration


from: Wiktionary: macular degeneration,
Fri Oct 21 13:56:17 2011