macular+degeneration



**History**: Docters and researches have known about Macular Degeneration for a long time. The National Institutes of Health records of publication first published case records on the diseased, which appeared in 1904. The number of published reports increased dramatically starting in the 1920s. Symptoms and characteristics of age related Macular Degeneration such as dusen deposits were described as early as 1854 by Francisus Donders. Macular Degeneration is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp central vison. Macula is the part of the eye that allows you to see fine details. There is two stages of macular degeneration, Dry which occurs when the light sensitive cells in the macula slowly breaks down, gradually burrying central vision inthe affected eye. There is also wet which always comes from the dry degeneration causing of the same symptoms different stages.

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The cause of Macular Degeneration are likeley to be genetically inherited. Macular degeneration often runs in the families. Wide varieties of different genes and proteins assoiciated with dry and wet macular degeneration. Studies of twins showed that genetic factors play a significant role in the causes. __** Causes of Macular Degeneration: **__ **Age**- The likely hood of develping macular degeneration increases with age. **Race**- Macular degeneration is more common in whites but occurs in all races. **Pigmentation**- Macular degeneration is more common in lightly pigmented people. **Gender**: Women seem to be at a greater risk. **Smoking**- Well established risk factor for both forms of macular degeneration. **Obesity**- are also associated with the conditions. **Exposure to sunlight**- Those with lifelong outdoor careers or hobbies as well as those living near the equator and at high altitudes are at greater risks.

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Symptoms of Macular Degeneration are __blurred__ or __decreased central close up__ and __distance vision__, which is often delayed because patients ignore the eye with worst vision prior to development of the condition in the previously good eye. __Blinds spots__ and scotomas are a direct resuly of lost macular function. Straight lines that look irregular or bent which is called metamorphopsia, and objects appear a different color or shape in each of the eyes are common in macular degeneration symptoms. Also objects __appearing smaller__ in one eye than the other called micropsia may also indicate a swelling and bulging of the macula, leading to a greater distance between the individual photo-recepters which in turn causes the brain to interperet the objects as a smaller objects than seen by the good eye.

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Treatment for Macular Degeneration had multiple treatments but no one has found a treatment or a cure for the dry form of age-related macular degeneration, because the wet form of age-related macular degeneration is more likely than the dry form to cause signigicant vison lost.

__**Laser treatment**__:(wet form)- May stop or lesson vision loss in early stages of the disease. Its object is to preform a specific wavelength designed to cauterize the abnormal blood vessels. - Argon and Krypton lasers are most commonly used for treating macular degeneration. the laser bream destroys existing blood vessels and may stop the growth of new ones.

__**Photo Dynamic Therapy**__- a light activiated drug called verteporfin is given intravenously, and a specially designed lazer is used to close the abnormal vessels. You may need several treatment within the two year time block, because closed blood vessels can reopen within the treatment area. MUST AVOID SUNLIGHT FOR FIVE DAYS AFTER TREATMENT.

__**Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor**__- Being evalulated as a treatment. The first 2/3 times have produced actual improvement in the vision for testing purposes. This treatment is not out for the public still reasearch being developed.

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