Degenerative Eye Disease

It is a known fact that as people age, they begin to experience vision problems. Many times, glasses or contact lenses can correct the problems. Some problems, however, may be the result of deteriorating eye health. If you are having vision problems, speak to your eye doctor about your symptoms and possible causes. If caught early enough, it may be possible to alleviate the problem.

Description

• Degenerative eye disease affects millions of people worldwide, and this number is expected to grow each year. Also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), this disease affects the macula, which is the area of the retina that is responsible for central vision. Lost vision from macular degeneration cannot be regained, but if the disease is found early enough, its progression can be slowed by laser surgery. This disease does not cause total blindness, but it can cause the quality of life to decrease by causing a blind spot of blurring in the central vision. Activities such as driving, reading and performing detailed work, as well as facial recognition, require good central vision. The most common form of the disease is known as dry macular degeneration and tends to affect people over 50.

Risk Factors

• There are several risk factors for degenerative eye disease besides age. It is a hereditary disease that seems to strike older white women the most. If you smoke cigarettes, you raise your chances of developing the disease by 50 percent. Obesity is also a risk factor, and the risk of the disease is greater for people who have light- colored eyes. Low levels of nutrients including zinc and antioxidant vitamins, along with the presence of cardiovascular disease are other factors that determine your risk for developing degenerative eye disease.

Cause

• The exact cause of the disease is unknown, but it develops with the aging of the eyes. The progression can be likened to a filter washing away impurities, which weakens as it becomes older, causing the waste to build up in the eyes. This waste is what causes the vision to deteriorate. AMD is categorized into the following stages: early stage, in which the disease is present, but there is no vision loss; intermediate stage, waste begins to build up more, causing central vision to become a bit blurry, and causing the need for extra light when reading; and advanced stage, in which waste buildup is quite heavy and causes a definite blurring in central vision. Macular degeneration starts out affecting only one eye, but typically, both eyes become involved.

Signs

• Signs of degenerative eye disease are gradual and painless, although vision changes may be noticed, such as the need for more light, difficulty adapting to low-light areas, blurring of printed words, a dulling of colors and intensity, difficulty recognizing faces, gradual haziness of overall vision and a blurred or blind spot in the center of your field of vision. It is possible that some people who suffer from degenerative eye disease to develop visual hallucinations as the disease progresses. Hallucinations can include geometric figures, unusual patterns, faces and animals. This is not a sign of dementia, but is simply a symptom of a variation of degenerative eye disease called Charles Bonnet syndrome.

Treatments and Drugs

• The National Eye Institute's Age-Related Eye Disease Study reports that daily supplements in the amounts of 500 mg of vitamin C, 15 mg of beta carotene, 400 IU of vitamin E, 2 mg of copper and 80 mg of zinc can reduce the risk of progression of degenerative eye disease by up to 25 percent. Dry macular degeneration can turn into a rapidly progressing wet type of the disease at any time.

Coping

• Changes in lifestyle can help you live comfortably with degenerative eye disease and still enjoy an active life. When coping with impaired vision, remember to get help when traveling, or travel with others. Get good glasses or use a magnifier when needed. If you still drive, avoid driving at night, in bad weather and in heavy traffic. Use brighter light in your home to help with reading. Have friends and family help you with tasks and with recognizing faces. Do not get discouraged and become isolated, and remember that you are not alone. You also can find support groups online for people with degenerative eye disease.

Prevention

• In an effort to avoid degenerative eye disease, remember to eat foods rich in antioxidants, which include vitamins A, C and E. Eating a diet rich in leafy green vegetables may reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Take zinc and antioxidant supplements, and eat fish, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Be sure to get regular eye exams and discuss any vision changes with your doctor.