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