Essay On Age Related Macular Degeneration

A medical definition of vision impairment is a sine qua non that prohibits 20/20 vision in one or both eyes (Bowman, Bowman, Dutton & Royal National Institute for the Blind, 2001; Vision Australia, 2015; Webster & Roe, 1998). Examples of vision impairment include, cataracts, which has the lens inside the eye increasingly cloudy; albinism, which is passed down genetically affecting clear vision and causes sensitivity to bright light; optic nerve damage, which affects field of vision as those nerves controlling vision are disrupted; macular degeneration, where parts of the retina that control colour and fine details are affected; retinitis pigmentosa, which is an ongoing reduction of the field of vision available and nystagmus, where the eye flickers involuntary (Bowman, Bowman, Dutton & Royal National Institute for the Blind, 2001; American Foundation for the Blind, 2015; Vision Australia, 2015 ; Baton Rouge Regional Eye Bank, 2015). John suffers from retinitis

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.

The research topic I will be introducing is Age-Related Macular Degeneration. This has been classified as a degenerative disorder that distresses the macula in one’s eye. AMD is unfortunately a common illness that individuals over 65 suffer from and that is a central cause vision loss. AMD doesn’t have a set disease pathway, in some individuals it advances slowly so that loss of vision does not arise for a long time. The disease can also advance much quicker and may lead to lack of vision in either or both eyes. The disease begins a blurry area near the center of one’s vision which grows larger and larger possibly causing a blank space in the eye (Boyd, 2013). Research is being done on AMD because it is a prevalent illness and has extreme consequences.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is one of such currently untreatable causes of blindness. RP, along with Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) are amongst the more frequent causes of blindness in the developed world (Greenwald 2009), while RP itself is the leading cause of inherited blindness (Palanker 2004).

Glaucoma is a condition that affects the eyes by causing damage to the optic nerve within the eye and it can worsen over time. It’s generally associated with an increase in pressure inside of the eye. More often than not it’s inherited and may not reveal itself until much later in life. The increase in pressure is known as intraocular pressure and can damage the optic nerve that’s responsible for transmitting images to your brain. Sadly, if you fail to recognise that you’re suffering from glaucoma and neglect to have it treated, then the damage to the optic nerve from high pressure can become permanent resulting in permanent vision loss. Without treatment, glaucoma can and will result in total and irreversible blindness within a

For the health condition description of age-related macular degeneration I will discuss the etiology, onset, prevalence rate, body systems, body structures, and associated deficits that come and are associated with this disease. “AMD is the degradation of the cells at the center of the retina which is the layer of tissue at the back of the eye that registers light. The macula is responsible for ventral vision, which enables us to read, drive, participate in sports, and do anything else that requires focusing directly ahead. Macular degeneration distorts the heart of the vision field” (Macular degeneration, 1998). Sunlight and smoking are both influences of the onset of AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), 2014). It is suggested to avoid intense bright sunlight which may help reduce the retinal degeneration. Hats, sunglasses and any other accessories that can help protect the eyes from the sun are suggested. Cigarette smoking has also been linked to increasing the risk of developing AMD and it is recommended that persons should stop smoking to decrease their chance of developing AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), 2014). AMD does not develop until the sixth or seventh decade of life, although early

Age related macular degeneration is a loss of function of the macula, it is more commonly known as AMD. AMD is the most common cause for vision loss in adult s over the age of 55. The macula, located in the central part of the eye, is what is being damaged. This part of the eye is what enables us to see substances that are directly in front of the field of vision.

“Glaucoma damage is permanent—it cannot be reversed. But medicine and surgery help to stop further damage” (Boyd). When starting treatment factors such as optic nerve damage, visual loss, and elevated eye pressure are deciding factors in what type of treatment will be necessary. The most common way to treat glaucoma is eye drops. The way the eye drops work is they either slow down the production of fluid that is created by the eye or they increase the amount of fluid in the eye to help it drain out of the eye. If a person is prescribed eye drops to use for his or her treatment they will usually be applied four times a day. With any type of medication there comes the side effects; In this case, glaucoma eye drops can help lower blood pressure while lowering the pressure in your eyes. The reason the eye drops are able to do this is because they have an element in them called a Beta-Blocker which is a drug that is used to keep the heart in a normal rhythm for people who have fast or irregular heartbeats. Although the best way for someone to prevent this sight-taking disease is to have regular checkups with an ophthalmologist. The doctor will be able to check the eye pressure and determine if it is in normal range. Also, the doctor will be able to actually look into the back of the eye to see if any damage has occurred to the optic

There are two different kinds of macular degeneration. There is a "wet" macular degeneration and a "dry" macular degeneration. More than half of the people with macular degeneration have the dry degeneration. The dry macular degeneration involves deposits of drusen which leads to the damage of the macula. Patients may still have good vision even when having dry macular degeneration. The early symptoms of dry macular degeneration include minimal vision impairment and the disease progresses really slow.

As humans, we don't always see with our eyes, but often with our imagination (Grunwald, 2016). Often times as people we never realize how useful our vision really is to us. You really don't think about something like that until it would actual happen to you. Throughout this essay, you will learn how the body is affected by Macular Degeneration (MD). Different signs and symptoms, as well as the etiology of MD, will be discussed. In the following, diagnosis tests and treatments may also be listed in order to help others who would like to know more about MD. Not to mention, you will learn the incidence and progression of MD. Furthermore, information though agencies and associations, as well as new research about MD will be given.

Cataracts: As people age, proteins can gradually build up on the lens, causing a brownish or yellowish tint to the lens, blocking effective light transfer to the retina. Other things can cause the lens to lose it's clarity, include past eye surgery, injury or damage to the eye and chronic illnesses like diabetes. While more than 50% of Americans will either be living with a cataract or will have had surgery by the time they reach 80 years of age, even adults in their forties and fifties develop cataracts, and some babies are born with cataracts. Symptoms – cloudy vision, trouble driving at night, struggling to find a vision prescription that works well – gradually worsen over time. Surgery is currently the only therapeutic option.

Patients with age-related macular degeneration may not notice any symptoms at first. The first noticeable sign is a gradual, or sudden, change in the quality of vision depending on which type of AMD is occurring. Straight lines will start to appear distorted (Kozarsky, 2017). Early dry AMD is diagnosed by the presence of drusen. This gradually can cause a dramatic loss of the center of vision. In the intermediate stage of AMD, the beginnings of vision loss are apparent, but there still may not be any other noticeable symptoms. At this time, optometrists will test for larger drusen and pigment changes in the retina (“Research into the Genetics of Macular Degeneration,” 2017). Other symptoms of age-related macular degeneration might include an

The damage caused by glaucoma can't be reversed. But treatment and regular checkups can help slow or prevent vision loss. The goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower pressure in your eye. Depending on your situation, your options may include eye drops, laser treatment or surgery.

     Macular Degeneration is a problem in the part of the eye that controls your sharpest central vision. It is a group of diseases that result in a loss of detailed vision. The brain will not just leave the spot empty, so it learns to fill it in with spotty macular cell damage. People most of the time don't tell their doctors (opthalmologists) about it until it is well in advance.

Acute glaucoma must be treated early to prevent loss of vision. Treatment usually begins with laser treatment to make a new opening in the iris that allows the angle to open. This is often restores vision, but in some eyes it is necessary to use eyedrops long-term. Surgical treatment