Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration: For further information on Macular degeneration please see: Macular Disease Foundation www.mdfoundation.com.au
Image from the Macular Disease Foundation
Macular degeneration is an eye disease which impacts the macular, the part of the eye responsible for fine central vision. Normally there are no symptoms with early to moderate macular degeneration. Macular degeneration isn’t painful and often individuals aren’t aware of any loss of vision until it’s quite late. As our macular is responsible for our central vision, macular degeneration can cause significant issues with everyday activities like reading and writing.
Macular degeneration is caused by a break down of the cells responsible for perceiving light in the macular. In dry macular degeneration, this typically occurs over a long period of time. Wet macula degeneration however, is due to leaky blood vessels below the macular. Macular degeneration is linked with ageing and for those over 50, the risk increases. There are also some types of macular degeneration which can impact those under 50.
When it comes to macular degeneration there are a few known risk factors such as:
Age : 1 in 7 people over 50 have evidence of macular degeneration.
Smoking: The largest modifiable risk factor, smokers are 3-4x more likely to develop macular degeneration and normally 5-10 years earlier than non-smokers.
Family history: Genetics have a role in around 70% of macular degeneration cases. If you have a sibling or a parent with macular degeneration, you have a 50% risk of developing it too.
The two main types of macular degeneration are:
Dry macular degeneration:
Dry macular degeneration is the more common type. It typically affects your capacity to see fine details. People with dry macular degeneration may find the following activities difficult: reading, writing, computer, watching TV and driving. Anything that requires detailed or fine vision can be impacted. Dry macular degeneration is often slow, and without regular check-ups, it’s difficult to know yourself if there are changes.
Wet macular degeneration:
Wet macular degeneration causes a quick and often dramatic decline in your central vision, typically in one eye. It tends to develop in individuals who already have dry macular degeneration. Wet macular degeneration can cause blurred central vision and lines to appear wavy or distorted. This is an emergency condition and if detected and treated promptly, can often be a stabilisation or improvement of vision.
What can you do?
A lot of our risk for macular degeneration is unavoidable and due to family history and age. There are some modifiable lifestyle factors like smoking. Smoking is a significant risk for macular degeneration and if you are a smoker, discussing this with your GP and ways to reduce/stop is a great start.
There are some eye friendly foods that you can consider as part of your diet (please consult your GP before undertaking a new diet or supplement). Diet recommendations for healthy eyes include:
-Eating dark leafy green vegetables and fresh fruit daily.
-Eating fish 2-3x a week (for vegetarians or vegans – examples of Omega 3 rich sources include: Seaweed and algae, chia seeds, hempseeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, edamame)
-Choosing low glycaemic index (GI) carbohydrates where possible.
-Eating a handful of nuts a week
Routine ocular health checks are also important, as the initial stages of macular degeneration often have no symptoms. We are able to discuss lifestyle risks, genetic factors and what to look out for. In some individuals with certain types of macular degeneration we may recommend certain dietary supplements which research has shown can slow progression.
