Tag Archives: macular degeneration

Most Americans Unaware of One of the Leading Causes of Blindness Among Seniors

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Most Americans Unaware of One of the Leading Causes of Blindness Among Seniors

Scottsdale Eye Physicians and Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds the public that a simple eye exam is key to saving sight against Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Age-Related Macular Degenerationis one of the leading causes of blindness among seniors, affecting approximately 2.1 million people nationwide[1].

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Macular Degeneration. What You Need to Know

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Macular Degeneration. What You Need to Know

Macular Degeneration, often referred to as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina. The retina’s central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye. It controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail. Macular degeneration is diagnosed as either dry or wet. Wet Macular Degeneration refers to growth of new blood vessels in the macula, where they are not supposed to be. The dry form of Macular Degeneration is more common than the wet AMD. Eighty five to ninety percent of patients are diagnosed with dry AMD. Macular Degeneration by itself will not lead to total blindness. In almost all cases, some vision remains and few Macular Degeneration patients experience total visual loss

Signs and Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

In its early stages, the condition may not have symptoms and may be unrecognized by the patient until it progresses or affects both eyes.

Symptoms include:

  • Dark, blurry areas in the center of vision
  • Diminished or changed color perception
  • Distorted vision in which straight lines appears wavy or blank.
Macular Degeneration Vision

Causes and Risk Factors

  • Aging: Approximately 10% of patients 66 to 74 years of age will have findings of Macular Degeneration. The prevalence increases to 30% in patients 75 to 85 years of age.
  • Smoking: Research shows that smoking doubles the risk of AMD.
  • Race: AMD is more common among Caucasians than among African-Americans or Hispanics/Latinos.
  • Genetics & Family history: The lifetime risk of developing late-stage Macular Degeneration is 50% for people who have a relative with the condition, versus 12% for people who do not have relatives with the condition.

How is it detected:

AMD can be detected in a routine eye exam. Your doctor may also ask you to look at an Amsler grid, a pattern of straight lines that resemble a checkerboard. See how an Amsler grid works by taking a Macular Degeneration Test.

Management

No surgical treatment is available for this condition; however, there are very effective treatments available for “wet” macular degeneration. The National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health perform a large study, called AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study), found benefits with some vitamin supplements along with high doses of antioxidants. The follow up study, AREDS2, showed that the antioxidants Lutein and Zeaxanthin also have benefits. These combinations of supplements have been suggested by the National Eye Institute to slow progression of the disease, click here for more info on these supplements!

Although much progress has been made recently in Macular Degeneration treatment and research, there is still no cure for this disease. Change your lifestyle now, quit smoking, wear UV filtered sunglasses, start taking the proper supplements and schedule your annual eye exam with one of our physicians today!

References:
“What is Macular Degeneration?” Web Blog Post. American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
“Adult Macular Degeneration.” Web Blog Post. Macular Degeneration Foundation.
“The Amsler Grid.” Web Blog Post. Macular Degeneration Partnership. 2015
“Facts about Age-Related Macular Degeneration”. Web Blog Post. National Eye Institute. July 2013.

5 Tips for Preventing Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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5 Tips for Preventing Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Love Your Eyes: Ophthalmologists Remind Older Americans to Protect Themselves from Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Seniors are at heightened risk for age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness among older Americans. The disease damages central vision, limiting a person’s ability to read and recognize faces. Approximately 2.1 million Americans had AMD as of 2010. This number is expected to double to more than 5.4 million by 2050. Meanwhile, fewer people are aware of the disease compared to other eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma.

To help raise awareness of age-related macular degeneration, the Scottsdale Eye Physicians and Surgeons, PC and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are reminding seniors that their eyes need love, too. There are steps they can take to take better care of their eyes and protect themselves from AMD-related blindness.

 

Here are five eye-loving tips from the Academy and the facts behind the advice:

 

  • Get regular comprehensive medical eye exams. AMD often has no early warning signs, so getting regular comprehensive eye exams is critical to diagnosing and treating AMD in its early stages. The Academy recommends that people over age 65 get an exam every one to two years, even if they have no signs or symptoms of eye problems.

 

  • Quit smoking. Numerous studies have shown smoking to increase the risk of developing AMD and the speed at which it progresses. If you smoke, you are twice as likely to develop macular degeneration compared with a nonsmoker.

 

  • Know your family’s eye health history. If you have a close relative with AMD, you have a 50 percent chance of developing the condition. Before you go in for your next eye exam, speak with your family about their eye health history. Sharing this information with your eye doctor may prompt him or her to recommend more frequent eye exams. The earlier AMD is caught, the better chances you may have of saving your vision.

 

  • Eat a diet rich in omega-3s and low in cholesterol and saturated fat. A number of studies have shown that people who had a reduced risk of AMD had diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish. In one study of patients who were at moderate risk for AMD progression, those who reported the highest omega-3 intake (not in the form of a supplement) were 30 percent less likely to develop advanced AMD after 12 years. In another study, an increased risk of AMD was found in individuals who had a higher intake of saturated fats and cholesterol and in those with a higher body mass index.

 

 

“There is still a worrying lack of awareness when it comes to AMD, despite it being the number one cause of blindness in seniors,” said Rahul N. Khurana, M.D., a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Older Americans who are unaware of the disease may be putting themselves at risk by not taking early steps to care for their vision. The good news is that they protect their sight from AMD-related blindness by showing their eyes some TLC with regular eye exams and lifestyle changes.”

 

Age-related Macular Degeneration is a very serious eye disease and the proper steps should be taken to protect your vision. Make sure to be seen by an eye doctor often for a comprehensive eye exam!   To make an appointment call us at 480-994-1872 or visit our website to book online!

 

 

 

 

Statins show continued potential as treatment for dry AMD

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Statins show continued potential as treatment for dry AMD

High doses of statins, known for lowering blood cholesterol, may someday prove to be a viable treatment for the dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a new study.

“As the population ages, finding safe and inexpensive strategies for the treatment and management of AMD is paramount.”

 

The results of the relatively small study were published Feb. 4 in the online journal, EBioMedicine.

 

In the study, high doses of Lipitor (80 mg) were given daily over a 12- to 18-month period to 23 people who suffered from dry AMD, which occurs when high deposits of lipid and fatty proteins form under the retina. In the pilot study, 10 patients experienced a regression in drusen deposits and their sight improved slightly. None of the subjects saw their sight worsen.

 

Researchers have been looking at the potential of statins for years as a treatment for AMD, says Steven G. Ferrucci, O.D., chief of optometry at Sepulveda VA Medical Center and professor at Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University. But the results have been mixed.

 

Dr. Ferrucci has written and lectured extensively on AMD. “For many years, researchers have postulated that statins may be protective for AMD,” Dr. Ferrucci says. “One study from 2001 looked at the incidence of AMD in patients using statins. Those who took statins had significantly decreased risk of being diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration compared with those who were not taking statins.”

 

Dr. Ferrucci noted the size of the new study—only 23 patients participated.  So it’s important to keep the results in perspective.

 

He agreed with the study’s authors, a team of researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School and the University of Crete, that more study is needed.

 

“These patients represent a specific subset of AMD patients—those with soft lipid deposits—which not all dry [AMD] patients have,” he says. “So obviously more research with a larger study must be done, and even then, it seems it may only benefit a percentage of AMD patients.”

 

What the study means for eye doctors and patients

Dr. Ferrucci says, “We should stay alert to these studies so we can properly inform our patients of new developments that may be of help, as well as temper those stories that might send false hope.”

 

And for patients? A leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over age 50, AMD affects 1.8 million Americans with millions more at risk for the condition.

 

“If statins turn out to be a successful treatment, that’s great for patients,” Dr. Ferrucci says. “Repurposing current FDA-approved medications, such as statins, which are very accessible and well-studied, would be huge. It would represent a huge cost and time savings versus discovering a novel drug.”

 

He adds, “Statins are already well studied. They have a good safety profile and there’s lots of clinical experience regarding dosing and side effects. As the population ages, finding safe and inexpensive strategies for the treatment and management of AMD is paramount.”

 

The AOA follows all research closely, including potential dry AMD treatments. Although statins are an interesting treatment possibility for patients, more research is needed regarding their influence on visual health. For more information or help for better vision, please visit the AOA website.