Macula or yellow spot– this is the site of sharpest vision on the retina of the eye. The progressive demise of the sensory cells located there is the main cause of blindness and severe visual impairment in industrialized countries. Since macular degeneration occurs predominantly in people over 65 years of age, physicians also speak of age-related or senile macular degeneration, AMD for short. The juvenile form, on the other hand, is very rare, is inherited, and is also known as Stargardt syndrome.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Age-related macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of visual acuity loss in old age – about 20 percent of 65- to 74-year-olds suffer from it, and among 75- to 85-year-olds it is already 35 percent. In Germany alone, more than one million people suffer from this visual disorder. The disease usually begins after the age of 50 and leads to blindness in the late stages. AMD is a retinal disease in which central vision progressively deteriorates. The macula, the area of the retina that allows us to see most clearly, is the most severely damaged. This is where the light-sensitive cells (photoreceptors) are most densely packed. The more of these photoreceptors die, the worse the person’s vision becomes. Everyday tasks such as reading or driving become increasingly difficult.
Recognize eye diseases: These pictures will help!
First signs of macular degeneration
- When letters blur or disappear when reading,
- When straight lines suddenly look curved (distorted, wavy) – especially pronounced in grid shapes such as tile patterns,
- When a blur appears in the center of the field of vision, while vision is preserved in the outer areas.
Usually, the disease process begins in only one eye. However, the probability is high that in a later stage, the second eye is also affected. AMD is divided into two forms:
- Dry macular degeneration: at about 85 percent, dry AMD is by far the more common form. It is thought to result from the deposition of cellular debris and metabolites between the sensory cells, damaging them. It usually progresses slowly over months to years or remains stable for a long period of time; vision loss is usually limited. However, it can also progress to wet AMD.
- Wet macular degeneration: more dangerous for eyesight is wet macular degeneration, because it progresses much more rapidly. In wet AMD, circulatory disorders initially lead to the formation of new, low-grade vessels. From these, fluid leaks in the retina, the photoreceptors die faster, the central vision is often lost completely – and within a few months.
Researchers have found that the more and longer their eyes were exposed to sunlight in their younger years, the more likely older people are to develop age-related macular degeneration. In addition to sun exposure, atherosclerosis, smoking, and low serum concentrations of beta-carotenoids put people at increased risk of AMD. Therefore, protect the eyes from direct sunlight with good sunglasses!
