Macular Degeneration: An Over View

[Ms. Kathy]

[shadow=red,left,300]Macular Degeneration: An Over view[/shadow]



This definition comes from The Macuar Degeneration Foundation. The URL is www.eyesight.org/FAQ/faq.html

What is macular degeneration?
In macular degeneration, the light-sensing cells of the macula mysteriously malfunction and may over time cease to work. Macular degeneration occurs most often in people over 60 years old, in which case it is called Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). Much less common are several hereditary forms of macular degeneration, which usually affect children or teen-agers. Collectively, they are called Juvenile Macular Degeneration. They include Best's Disease, Stargardt's Disease, Sorsby's Disease and some others.

The American Macular Degeneration Foundation has a web site at:
www.macular.org/

[Guest]

Do the kids with this disease always go completely blind and can this haapen in one eye or always in both eyes?

[Ms. Kathy]

Do the kids with this disease always go completely blind and can this haapen in one eye or always in both eyes?

Most of the children I've met with some form of MD lose central vision and become legally blind. They may not be able to drive a car when they beocme teens and they may need a cane for recognition and/or travel but not in all cases. They may seem to look off to the side when looking at your face but they can see you although they may need to read extremely large print or resort to reading Braille even though they have vision.

I've seen one eye end up worse than the other and I've heard of one eye barely being affected but most of the kids with MD I've seen are affected in both eyes. Very rare cases have I seen a child without residual vision although it is possible. Most seem to deteriorate to a certain level and then stabilize.

[Ms. Kathy]

Preventing Macular Degeneration
2007/01/13 17:36 Press Release from:

Ezine ArticlesMacular degeneration is one of the leading causes of partial blindness in the United States. In the United States, It is the leading cause of severe loss of vision, even legal blindness, in people over 65 and affects about 6 percent of Americans between the ages of 65 and 75, and accounts for 14 percent of all new cases of blindness, with 16,000 cases reported annually. Although the actual causes have not yet been determined, some scientists say that it can be prevented by avoiding frequent exposure to sunlight and by stopping smoking.

[Ms. Kathy]

Independent.ie
What is age-related macular degeneration?
The area at the back of the eye is known as the retina, and this area contains specialised cells, called rods and cones, that capture visual images and transmit them as electrical impulses to the brain via the optic nerve.

The central part of the retina is known as the macula and it is this area that is responsible for distinguishing fine visible detail, allowing us to recognise faces or read.

Macular degeneration occurs when the cells of the macula break down, causing blurring or distortion of vision, or creating a blind spot.

There are two categories of macular degeneration, dry or wet. Dry AMD occurs when the macula progressively deteriorates, becoming thin and drying out.

Wet AMD is caused by rapid growth of small blood vessels beneath the retina, causing bleeding and scarring of the tissue leading to vision loss.

AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Approximately 10pc of people between the ages of 66 and 74 have signs of macular degeneration, rising to 30pc in the over 75s.

There is no effective treatment for dry AMD, although a number of vitamins and minerals have been shown to delay progression.

In recent times, there have been a number of new treatments developed for use in wet AMD. These treatments, called anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, reduce the proliferation of blood vessels.

Further information is available from the Irish charity, fighting blindness at www.fightingblindness.ie

Source Link:http://www.independent.ie/health/questions-answers/what-is-agerelated-macular-degeneration-1092927.html

[Ms. Kathy]

Information on Macular Degeneration
Source: Age-Related Macular Degeneration - What Is Macular Degeneration - Do You Have Low Vision

Macular degeneration, or ARMD, is the leading cause of blindness in the US. ARMD has no cure, but can be improved by the use of special glasses and lenses. Learn more about macular degeneration and low vision.

Video Link: video.about.com/vision/Macular-Degeneration.htm

[Ms. Kathy]

Engineer deals with blindness

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2007 Last modified: Tuesday, November 6, 2007 11:19 AM EST
Source Link: The Citizen, Auburn NY www.auburnpub.com/articles/2007/11/06/news/lake_life/lakelife05.txt

By Diane La Rue

The Citizen staff report

Eight months ago, Novelis process engineer Kevin Lawless underwent a rite of passage. He went from having “low vision” to being declared “legally blind.”

He lost his limited drivers license. He can no longer sit on the bleachers and recognize his child playing on the sports field.

But Lawless does not have to face the changes alone. Along with the support of his family, friends and employer, he is receiving services and information from AURORA of CNY, Inc.

AURORA is an agency of the United Ways of Oswego and Cayuga counties. It is the only nonprofit that works exclusively with central New Yorkers who are deaf, blind, visually impaired and hard of hearing.

Lawless told his story at a recent Constellation Energy United Way Leadership Luncheon to give Constellation Energy's leadership-level contributors an idea of where its money is going.

Lawless, 45, was diagnosed with macular degeneration when he was 21. His vision deteriorated gradually.

“The hardest thing to deal with now is the loss of freedom,” he said. “I loved my autonomy, but it's no more.”

AURORA's services to Lawless include an evaluation by a specialist to determine what devices, such as magnifiers, will help him at home and on the job.

If needed, AURORA will offer him additional support, such as cooking classes and instruction in traveling with a white cane.

AURORA also offers support groups as well as social work services and referrals.

According to the American Foundation for the Blind, a person is legally blind when their field of vision encompasses 20 degrees or less, or their acuity is 20/200 or less. A person with 20/200 vision has to be 20 feet away to see something that a person with normal vision can see from 200 feet away.

For more information about AURORA, call 422-7263 (TDD 422-9746).