Macular Conditions
Macular degeneration also referred to as ARMD is considered to be one of the most prevalent vision ailments in individuals over the age of fifty in the United States. This being said it is important to note that we require our macula to see detail and the lack of this result in not complete vision loss but distorted middle vision instead. The macula is a minute section of the retina that has the highest resolution; a feature that enables us to see great detail. Macula is a Latin word that means ‘spot’ and this is the ‘spot’ that we use to do most of our day to day activities that require precision, such as; reading, driving and even recognizing the faces of your loved ones. In order for you to imagine what your vision would be like without a properly functioning macula, visualize having a blank right in the middle of your eye sight but being able to see around it? How annoying is that? Therefore the loss of a properly functioning macula enables the sufferer with only peripheral vision, which is not enough for one to go about living a normal and healthy day to day life.
Most macular conditions are in short, brought on by age, genetics and certain environmental factors though this is rare. ARMD is generally developed in individuals above 50 and we see more frequent occurrences of such macular conditions in at least 30% of the population over the age of eighty as well. Some causal factors that have been identified in causing this eye disease are; smoking, being over weight, having an imbalanced diet, constant exposure to the sun and not having regular eye checkups especially at an older age. It is important that if you are of a considerable age, to not just go to an optician and purchase a pair of glasses for your blurry vision. Always make sure to get a thorough checkup done from your eye doctor because when it comes to eye disease, almost all of them can be cured with early detection.
If you have a macular condition it is possible for you to experience perfect 20-20 vision in its early stages. Later on it may become difficult for you to perform your usual tasks such as reading first before distant vision if affected. The advancement of this eye disease will gradually ensure that the sufferer is unable to distinguish similar letters and numbers in both eyes or only in one eye depending on the individual’s condition.
Fortunately though there are arrays of drugs that help make such abnormal blood vessels regress and injecting them in to the eye can help control ARMD.
