Age-Related Macular Degeneration Paper

Macular Degeneration is a disease of the eye that gradually causes loss of a person’s central vision. Approximately 1.75 million Americans suffer from vision loss associated with the disease (All About Vision 1). The leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60, Macular Degeneration, exists in two types (National Eye Institute 1). Both the wet and dry versions of the disease have similarities in risk factors, but differ in symptoms and treatments.

Visual impairment is a state wherein an individual experiences difficulty in seeing or not being able to see anything physical presented to them. According to Mandal, MD (2013) It is a state where a visually impaired person’s eyesight cannot be corrected back to a “normal level”. Visual impairment is often associated with old age. In Europe, an estimated 15.5 million people have visual impairment and in seven countries in Europe, about 50% of blindness is caused by age-related macular degeneration. (Dibb,

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness for people 60 years of age and older in the developed world. Vision loss is caused by the destruction of the cone photoreceptors, located in the macula, that are responsible for color/central vision. The underlying cause of AMD is the loss of the monolayer of pigmented epithelial cells located just below the photoreceptors, known as the retinal pigmentum epithelium (RPE). The main role of the RPE is to maintain the function of the photoreceptor layer by secreting nutrients, absorbing stray light, and recycling debris used during the visual cycle. As a person ages the efficiency of the RPE layer is diminished causing a build up of toxic by-products. These toxic build-ups, known as drusens, result in the separation and death of the photoreceptor and RPE layers. AMD is speculated to result from as many as 20 different genetic mutations and as a result there is no known cure for the disease (CITE), but recent advances in stem cell therapy is a hopeful step in the right direction.

For many people being diagnosed with a new disease could come as a shock because it is going to be a life changing event. One of the biggest life changing diseases is Age-Related Macular Degeneration. For those people who do not know what Age-Related Macular Degeneration is it is a disease that attacks the macula part of the eye, which affects vision. AMD is found in a majority of older people over the age of 50. For the people that are diagnosed with Age-Related Macular Degeneration their lives are going to be turned upside down. Newly diagnosed patients often suffer from depression after the diagnoses. In my research I found a journal that was written with some statistics of people with AMD that have depressive symptoms against “controls”.

Age-related macular degeneration also known as AMD is a disease leading to severe vision and legal blindness in the elderly population. I will address the health condition description and the disability and functional implications who suffer from this disease.

Macular Degeneration is a disease that affects the retina of the eye. The retina is a layer in the back of the eye that helps us to see. It is also the lining of the eye that helps us respond to light. However, when having macular degeneration there are major changes in a person's central vision. The disease causes central images to appear blurred and then dark spots may begin to appear that get larger and larger. It may also be very hard to see straight lines as Macular Degeneration may cause them to be curved. When having this disease color may appear to be darker and less vivid than normal.

Glaucoma can occur without much warning, whether its acute from a accident in which a trauma is issued on the eye, or if it is due to age and heredity. Glaucoma doesn 't discriminate, it is seen in all races and genders. It happens so slowly with age and heredity that you don 't even notice the loss of vision until it is too late, and with acute glaucoma it can be painful with pain that radiates over the face, a headache, nausea, vomiting and seeing colored halos around lights and even blurred vision can be a few symptoms (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). Once you start seeing halos, and lose peripheral vision, it may be an indicator that irreversible damage to the optic nerve has happened. In this paper we will discuss the pathophysiology of glaucoma, the types of glaucoma as well as the causes for them. the issues that glaucoma can cause someone, and the treatments and interventions. We will also have a education handout to help better understand how to administer the medication, and the effects it has on the eye.

The effect of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake (LCPUFA) on neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NV AMD) and central geographic atrophy (CGA) over a 12 year intake was studied through a prospective cohort study. The cohort was from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), which is a large phase 3 clinical trial that has tested nutrient and vitamin supplement formulations as prevention methods for AMD. Categories of AMD and risk of progression were determined by the size and extent of drusen and abnormalities of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in each eye, the evaluation of stereoscopic photographs, and visual acuity (SanGiovanni et al., 2009). AREDS supported that individuals with the highest intake of

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition and a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older. It causes damage to the macula, a small spot near the center of the retina and the part of the eye needed for sharp, central vision, which lets us see objects that are straight ahead.

Eyes are considered one of, or the most important of the five senses and one that is taken with huge appreciation, but many are unaware of the certain risk factors that are performed daily which can influence the quality of vision in the long term. According to the According to the Centers for disease control and prevention (2013) in the United States, the most common eye disorders are age related and can lead to reduction in vision or complete blindness; they include: age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Smoking is commonly known to cause certain cancers and heart diseases, but not commonly associated with its effect on the visual system and its link to the development of these common conditions. According to Rennie et al. (2012) ‘forty-seven percent knew of the link between smoking and eye disease’. To try and promote the influence cigarettes have on the visual system, the Royal national institute for blind people (2011) has suggested including pictures and a helpline number on each cigarette packet to deter the smokers. Moreover, one of the many side effects of smoking is that it raises blood pressure. Therefore, alongside recommendations to refrain from smoking to prevent an increase in pressure, there are certain nutrients that are known to decrease blood pressure. These can prove to be a very effective treatment for ocular diseases linked to diabetes such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Despite the harmful effects of

In the words of Allan Ray, an American professional basketball player who suffered from impaired vision, “I faced the odds when glaucoma took the ball out of my hands. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: ‘It may be cloudy in my right eye, but the sun is shining very brightly in my left eye.’” The significance of this quote explains Ray’s traumatic experience in coping with an eye disease called glaucoma. Diagnosed at an early age, Ray accepted the fact that this severe disease will never leave him alone. Glaucoma is an eye condition that people should fear because it is the second leading cause of blindness. It is considered “the silent thief of sight” because the vision loss happens slowly over time, and that particular factor

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of sight loss in the United Kingdom. It is usually age related, occurring in 1 in 10 people over 65. In macular degeneration, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) at the back of the macula in the eye, which supports the rod and cone cells vital to central vision, stops functioning. This results in the death of rod and cone cells, resulting in the loss of central vision. There are two types of macular degeneration: wet, and dry. Dry macular degeneration is the most common type and typically causes central vision loss over several months or years. Wet macular degeneration is rare, causing central vision loss in several days or weeks.

Proteins are needed for essential parts of life to occur. Proteins are made of a string of amino acids, that a folded to from a stable three-dimensional structure. The way a protein is folded is essential to it functions. If proteins are fold incorrect then, it function is impaired. It has been found that Misfolding of proteins, can lead to diseases. One of these disease that is cause by Misfolding is Retinitis Pigmentosa 3, which is caused by the misfolding of the rhodopsin. How the misfolding of rhodopsin can cause Retinitis Pigmentosa 3 (Miller).

The best way to prevent eye disorders is through regular, preventative examinations that are our specialty. An eye exam is only as good as the information obtained, and we have developed an effective, step-by-step system for gathering your information accurately and efficiently.

It is the most common form of eye problems in seniors and the instances and severity of this disease increase with age. The peripheral vision is not impacted by macular degeneration and total blindness is rarely a result. While there is not currently a cure, the National Institute of Health notes that smoking cessation, regular exercise, low blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, and a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids and dark green leafy vegetables can reduce the risk of the disease and slow its progression if one already has it. Senior in home care personnel can help your senior loved one find the exercise program and diet that is right for them if macular degeneration is a concern or