Introduction

Millions of people around the world suffer from age-related macular degeneration, as about half of people over 75 are at risk of developing the disease.

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration is a chronic and progressive disease accompanied by changes in the central region of the retina (macular area). This disease affects both eyes asymmetrically and is usually more severe in one eye.

Causes of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Dr. Gergana Stoyanova, an ophthalmologist, indicates that the causes of this disease are:

1 – Age – If the risk of contracting a disease is 2 percent at age 50, then at age 75 that percentage becomes 50 percent.

2 – Genetics – More than 50 genes have been shown to lead to the development of defects that cause age-related macular degeneration.

3 – Smoking – Your doctor advises you to stop smoking completely to reduce your risk of contracting this disease.

4 – Excess weight – To prevent the development of the disease, the patient should eat less fatty foods, exercise, and not be exposed to direct sunlight.

Symptoms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

According to experts, the disease in the early stages develops asymptomatically, since a person notices a slight decrease in visual acuity, which cannot be corrected with glasses. He may also feel uncomfortable while reading because he finds it difficult to read text in the dark and needs an additional light source.

But when the disease enters the second stage, the person quickly loses central vision, and one of the characteristic symptoms is distortion of straight lines.

According to the doctor, if the victim is not provided with the necessary medical care in a timely manner, the disease may enter the atrophy stage and changes in central vision will become almost irreversible.

Source: Vesti. RU