In the United States, the leading cause of visual loss among older citizens is a macular degeneration. Since the US is composed of an aging population, it is estimated that the number of people who are affected by this disease will increase. Macular degeneration (MD) refers to the deterioration of the macula region of the eye. This is a small central region of the eye responsible for controlling visual acuity. It is found on the retina. When in need of curing macular degeneration Bethesda should be visited.
The human eye is equipped for perusing, perceiving faces, and doing whatever other activity that requires seeing fine subtle details if the macula is healthy. It is estimated that most Americans above the age of 40 have some form of muscular degeneration. It is more popular among the white population with 14 percent of whites above 80 years old being affected.
There are two main diagnosis of MD, that is, dry or wet macular degeneration. Dry MD is also referred to as non-neovascular MD while wet MD is also referred to as neovascular MD. Neovascular is a term that is used to refer to the growth of new blood vessels in an area where they are not supposed to grow naturally. An example of such a place is the macula.
Dry MD has been determined to be more common compared to the wet form. In fact, 85 to 90 percent of all diagnoses are for dry MD. When compared, the wet form of the disease usually leads to more severe loss in vision than the dry form. In both forms of the disease, central vision is the one affected, causing blind spots directly ahead.
There are a number of factors that contribute to dry MD but the main factors include thinning and aging of the muscular tissues. The tissues usually store pigment in the muscular as they age and thin. This form of MD may also be caused by age and it mostly occurs in older people. Also, the condition may strike youngsters when the macular begins to thin.
Usually, the loss caused by the dry form is not as severe as the one caused by wet MD. However, it may result to the retinal cells degrading within a span of many years. This leads to vision loss later in equal severity. Currently, dry MD has no FDA-approved treatment although there are a few drugs which are in their clinical trial stages.
Studies that are underway indicate that the risk of dry MD advancing to wet MD can be reduced by consuming a diet rich in zeaxanthin and lutein. However, the studies have not demonstrated if nutritional supplements have any preventive effects of MD in general. Other ways that were suggested for preventing the development of MD are wearing sunglasses, exercising, and eating healthy diet.
It has been established that 10 percent of dry MD progresses to wet MD when new blood vessels develop under the retina. This results in leaking of fluid and blood. The leak leads to destruction of retinal cells responsible for vision. This leads to permanent blindness and development of blind spots in central vision.
The human eye is equipped for perusing, perceiving faces, and doing whatever other activity that requires seeing fine subtle details if the macula is healthy. It is estimated that most Americans above the age of 40 have some form of muscular degeneration. It is more popular among the white population with 14 percent of whites above 80 years old being affected.
There are two main diagnosis of MD, that is, dry or wet macular degeneration. Dry MD is also referred to as non-neovascular MD while wet MD is also referred to as neovascular MD. Neovascular is a term that is used to refer to the growth of new blood vessels in an area where they are not supposed to grow naturally. An example of such a place is the macula.
Dry MD has been determined to be more common compared to the wet form. In fact, 85 to 90 percent of all diagnoses are for dry MD. When compared, the wet form of the disease usually leads to more severe loss in vision than the dry form. In both forms of the disease, central vision is the one affected, causing blind spots directly ahead.
There are a number of factors that contribute to dry MD but the main factors include thinning and aging of the muscular tissues. The tissues usually store pigment in the muscular as they age and thin. This form of MD may also be caused by age and it mostly occurs in older people. Also, the condition may strike youngsters when the macular begins to thin.
Usually, the loss caused by the dry form is not as severe as the one caused by wet MD. However, it may result to the retinal cells degrading within a span of many years. This leads to vision loss later in equal severity. Currently, dry MD has no FDA-approved treatment although there are a few drugs which are in their clinical trial stages.
Studies that are underway indicate that the risk of dry MD advancing to wet MD can be reduced by consuming a diet rich in zeaxanthin and lutein. However, the studies have not demonstrated if nutritional supplements have any preventive effects of MD in general. Other ways that were suggested for preventing the development of MD are wearing sunglasses, exercising, and eating healthy diet.
It has been established that 10 percent of dry MD progresses to wet MD when new blood vessels develop under the retina. This results in leaking of fluid and blood. The leak leads to destruction of retinal cells responsible for vision. This leads to permanent blindness and development of blind spots in central vision.
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If you are suffering from macular degeneration Bethesda has one of the best eye doctors in the area. Make an appointment with this specialist now via http://www.bethesdaretina.com/services.
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