Macular degeneration question

Question: My mother was just diagnosed with macular degeneration. What is it and what can we do about it?

Answer: This is something I’m familiar with since the agency I work for provides training and services to many individuals who have this condition. Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss for Americans 65 and older.  

Here are some basic facts about Mac-D.  The macula is the center part of the retina. This area is responsible for the clear, detailed central vision we use for many everyday tasks, such as reading, driving or even identifying facial features.  

When the macula becomes damaged, a blind spot develops in the central part of the visual field.  Depending on the extent of the damage, this blank spot can be relatively small or take up most of the central field. The earlier the condition is detected, the better the chances are to keep it from getting worse. While younger individuals can have macular degeneration, this is a problem most commonly found in older people. While the condition can affect anybody, you’re more likely to develop Mac-D if others in your family have it.  Your odds increase if you have blue eyes. You also increase your risk of developing Mac-D if you smoke.

There are two types of macular degeneration. The milder type is “dry,” so named because there’s no bleeding involved, although the macula has deteriorated. There is little that can be done for dry macular degeneration at this point, although a diet rich in green leafy vegetables and a vitamin supplement with Lutein can help keep it from getting worse.  

The “wet” form of Mac-D involves blood vessels within the eye rupturing and bleeding into the eye.  The blood will dissipate eventually, but in the meantime it will interfere with vision. While these vessels will heal, the new vessels will be much weaker and more likely to rupture again.

Wet macular degeneration can now be treated with injections that help prevent future bleeding.  While this isn’t a cure, it slows down the process so; hopefully the condition doesn’t get worse. It’s important to note that macular degeneration only affects the central, not the peripheral vision.

A person with Mac-D will not become totally blind, although they may reach a point where they can no longer read regular print, drive a car or perform some routine tasks without modification.  

There is training available to help your mom use her remaining vision and to show her other ways to do things non-visually. Please ask your mom to call the Somerset County Blind Center at 814-445-1310 for additional information on our services, which are free of charge.




Watch for info on this growing health problem in “At Your Service” each week. People at high risk of diabetes should have their plasma glucose levels measured by a health professional to detect impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, both of which indicate an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
