| Macular degeneration, because of its association | | | | alert the person to condition either. Because it is |
| with the aging process, is referred to as age | | | | the centre of the eye which is affected the |
| related. You will find the macular positioned at the | | | | patient will retain some periphery vision, but even |
| back of the eye forming the central part of the | | | | that vision will be out of focus. |
| retina. The retina is made up of a layer of nerve | | | | There are two types: wet and dry. The dry |
| tissue and is responsible for sending light to the | | | | version is the most common representing about |
| brain. A common analogy used for the retina is | | | | 90% of cases. As we age the cells of our body |
| that it acts much the same way as the film in a | | | | simply don't work as well as they used to. In this |
| camera. | | | | case the cells in the retina can't utilise the available |
| Without the macular we wouldn't be able to see | | | | nutrients which results in a failure to clear the |
| fine detail or objects which are directly in front of | | | | by-products of cellular activity. These tiny |
| us. Faces would be unrecognisable and tasks like | | | | deposits are called Drusen and are left behind |
| driving, reading and writing along with many other | | | | under the retina making its surface uneven. |
| detailed activities would be unobtainable. The | | | | Unfortunately there is no proven clinical cure for |
| wonderful world of colour would also be denied | | | | the dry type. |
| leaving us to exist in a blurred world with only | | | | Wet or neovascular which accounts for |
| various shades of black and white for visual | | | | approximately 10-15% of cases is, to a degree, |
| stimulation. | | | | treatable with some promising results. This |
| And this doom and gloom can become a reality | | | | condition involves the rapid growth of new blood |
| as age and lifestyle plays havoc with the cells in | | | | vessels behind the retina which are fragile and |
| our eyes. Current statistics show that as many as | | | | often leak. This leakage of fluid or blood results in |
| 1 in 50 people between the ages of 50 and 55 will | | | | visual impairment within days in most cases. But |
| develop this eye disability, and the odds shorten | | | | modern medical advancements can prevent |
| dramatically as we approach our eighth decade | | | | further visual loss and in some cases bring light |
| with as many as 1 in 5 octogenarians suffering | | | | back into the lives of patients with a partial sight |
| from the condition. If you smoke, have high blood | | | | restoration. |
| pressure, or a parent or sibling suffers from the | | | | In conclusion it is very much down to the luck of |
| same type of sight issues, then your risk to | | | | the draw who develops this, but there are some |
| potential blindness has increased by as much as 2 | | | | lifestyle changes you can make which will work in |
| times. | | | | your favour. Don't smoke, live as healthily as |
| Usually both eyes are affected, but it is not | | | | possible, and consume a diet rich in vitamins and |
| uncommon for one eye to become diseased | | | | minerals containing antioxidants linked to good |
| before the other. The healthy eye will normally | | | | ocular health. Regular visits to the optician will |
| compensate for this disparity in vision and can | | | | keep you informed as to the health of your eyes. |
| disguise the fact that there is a problem for many | | | | Oh and one last thing, if you have high blood |
| years. There is no pain or redness of the eyes to | | | | pressure, get it fixed. |