ARMD- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is a deterioration or breakdown of the eye's macula. The macula is a small area in the retina — the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. The macula is the part of the retina that is responsible for central vision, allowing people to see fine details clearly.
Dry ARMD- The majority of people with macular degeneration have the dry form. This condition is caused by aging and thinning of the tissues of the macula. Macular Degeneration usually begins when tiny yellow or white pieces of fatty protein called Drusen form under the retina. Eventually, the macula may become thinner and stop working properly.
Vision loss is usually gradual with Dry Macular Degeneration. People who develop Dry Macular Degeneration must carefully and constantly monitor their central vision. If they notice any changes in their vision, they should tell their eye doctors right away, as the dry form can change into the more damaging form of Macular Degeneration called Wet (Exudative) Macular Degeneration. While there is no medication or treatment for Dry Macular Degeneration, some people may benefit from a specific vitamin therapy regimen.
Wet ARMD-About 10 percent of people who have Macular Degeneration have the Wet form, but it can cause significantly more damage to their central vision than the dry form. Wet Macular Degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow underneath the retina. This blood vessel growth is called Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV) because these vessels grow from the layer under the retina called the Choroid. These new blood vessels may leak fluid or blood, blurring or distorting central vision. Vision loss from this form of Macular Degeneration may be faster and more noticeable than that from Dry Macular Degeneration.
The longer these abnormal vessels leak or grow, the more risk there is of losing more detailed vision. Also, if abnormal blood vessel growth happens in one eye, there is a risk that it will occur in the other eye. The earlier that Wet Macular Degeneration is diagnosed and treated, the better chance one has of preserving some or much central vision. That is why it is so important that patients and their eye doctors monitor the vision in each eye carefully.
Learn more about cutting edge technology used to diagnose and treat dry eye disease.
