| Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) | | | | about 10% of the total population of the |
| | | | world in the age group of 66 to 74 years is |
| Eyes like all other organs in the body | | | | suffering from the disease. The percentage of |
| undergo wear and tear. As we age, this wear | | | | people getting affected by AMD increases as |
| and tear starts to affect the vision. | | | | the aging process increases. |
| Age-related macular degeneration as the name | | | | |
| suggests is a macular disease which mostly | | | | Smoking: Researches in macular degeneration |
| develops after a person reaches middle age. | | | | have found that smoking increases the risk of |
| Malfunctioning of the light sensing cells in | | | | AMD. |
| the macula is the cause of AMD. | | | | |
| | | | Gender: Women are more prone to AMD than men. |
| Retina, situated at the back of eye, is the | | | | |
| light-sensitive tissue which transmits the | | | | Race: The disease is found more in white |
| images we see to the brain as electrical | | | | people than in black people. |
| impulses. Macula is a part of the retina and | | | | |
| is responsible for the sharp central vision | | | | Family history: The chances of a person |
| needed for reading, driving, distinguishing | | | | developing AMD is high if the person's family |
| colors and for perceiving fine details. | | | | has a history of AMD. |
| | | | |
| Age-related macular degeneration robs the | | | | Color of the eye: People with blue eyes are |
| center part of anything a person views. For | | | | more prone to AMD. This is because blue eyes |
| example, if the person affected with AMD | | | | have less protective pigment which |
| looks at a photograph of a person, he will be | | | | neutralizes the ultraviolet light effect. |
| able to only see the outermost regions of the | | | | |
| photograph and the center portions will be | | | | Diet: Researches have identified high fat |
| blurred or partially black and therefore the | | | | intake as a major reason for the development |
| person will not be able to identify the | | | | of AMD. |
| photograph. AMD rarely leads to total | | | | |
| blindness. | | | | Other diseases leading to AMD: People |
| | | | suffering from hypertension, obesity and high |
| It is estimated that about 15 million people | | | | cholesterol can develop age-related macular |
| in the United States are suffering from | | | | degeneration. |
| Age-related macular degeneration and around | | | | |
| two million new cases are diagnosed annually. | | | | Sunlight: It is believed that over exposure |
| AMD is the main cause of vision loss in | | | | of the eyes to sun increases the risk of AMD. |
| adults over 60. Around 25% of the population | | | | But this continues to be a debated issue as |
| in the age group of 65 to 75 is suffering | | | | certain studies does not agree with the view |
| from AMD. The numbers go even high for adults | | | | point. |
| over 75. | | | | |
| | | | Latest researches point that the accumulation |
| Causes of AMD | | | | of pro-oxidant melanin oligomers within |
| | | | lysosomes of retinal pigment epithelium is |
| The exact cause of AMD still eludes the | | | | the cause of AMD. As there is a constant |
| ophthalmologists. But certain risk factors | | | | increase annually in the number of patients |
| have been identified. | | | | suffering age-related macular degeneration, |
| | | | more and more researches are being conducted |
| Aging: Aging process is believed to be the | | | | to determine the exact cause of the disease. |
| main reason for AMD. It is estimated that | | | | |