Vision failure due to common eye diseases is on the rise among aging people. The NEI or National Eye Institute estimates over three million people from the United States in the age forty years or more are sightless or having diminished eye sight, the prevalence being one among every twenty-eight individuals. According to the NEI, this figure would rise to over five million – a near sixty percent jump.
NEI has made an identification of the vastly common eye diseases in individuals above forty years of age.
- AMD or age-related macular degeneration.
- Cataract.
- Diabetic eye disease.
- Glaucoma.
Here is how these common eye diseases could pose a threat to vision.
AMD and your eyes
AMD could have a damaging and then destroying effect on central vision or ‘direct-ahead’ or fine detail eyesight. AMD is of duo types, namely, wet and dry. Nearly ninety percent of AMD have been found to be ‘dry’ whereas ten percent of them are ‘wet’ (an advanced type). Nearly ninety percent of grave eyesight failures are due to the more harmful wet type of AMD.
AMD Risk Factors
The presence of any of the following conditions raises the risk of developing AMD.
- Those people above sixty years of age.
- Presence of hypertension or elevated blood pressure.
- Smoking.
- Obesity.
- Being a woman or of the Caucasian race.
- Presence of family case history of age-related macular degeneration.
AMD Symptoms
AMD though does not cause pain yet might deteriorate gradually or swiftly. Dry form of AMD could impact central vision in a couple of years whereas wet form of AMD could lead to abrupt and drastic vision alterations. In both these scenarios, early identification and therapy are important for slackening loss in vision. It is imperative to visit an ophthalmologist in case one notices:
- Straight lines which appear undulating, a sign of wet form of AMD.
- Blurriness in central vision, a prevalent symptom in dry AMD.
- Problems faced when trying to see objects located afar.
- Trouble faced when trying to see colors properly.
- Problems faced when trying to see finer points such as face or letters on a sheet.
- Darkish or void spots which block central vision.
AMD Treatment
Wet AMD treatment might comprise of photodynamic therapy, laser surgery or special medication shots.
Dry AMD therapy is designed to monitor or slow advancement of the condition. Vision failure due to advanced staging dry AMD is non-preventable. However, intake of particular dietetic supplements could aid in stabilizing the condition in several patients. A research conducted by NEI revealed that intake of elevated dosages of antioxidants like beta carotene, vitamins E, C, zinc would aid in slowing AMD advancement for intermediate, elevated risk of progression to advanced staging AMD and advanced stage AMD affecting solely a single eye. But, this regime fails in preventing AMD inception or slowing advancement in initial staging condition.
AMD Preventative Measures
- Increasing daily intake of greens and fishes.
- Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising on a regular basis.
- Smoke cessation.
- Checking blood pressure on a regular basis and getting treated for hypertension.
