Macular Degeneration Surgery

By Joven Villanueva

While the quest in searching for the cure of macular degeneration is on going. Many national eye centers are investigating new ways to treat the said illness. There are different options in managing macular degeneration as the illness has two types. The wet form which usually results to loss of vision due to no reliable treatment yet to be developed and the dry form accounting 90% of cases can still be managed and controlled if diagnosed at an early stage and by eating the right food rich in vitamins A, C, E and other supplements such as zeaxanthine and zinc - proven to be effective in slowing down the disease

Here are some optional treatments available for patients having the wet form of macular degeneration. First is Photodynamic therapy which uses a combination of both cold laser and light-sensitive drug destroying abnormal blood vessels as the drug travels to the unwanted vessels after it was injected from the arm. Another option is Laser therapy where high energy lights are used to destroy abnormal growing blood vessels.

The Cole eye institute is conducting experimental treatments such as a surgery to remove abnormal blood vessels and blood. A genetically engineered enzyme is used by the surgeon to dissolve blood clots under the macula. Another procedure is called Macular translocation.This is performed using a laser therapy to treat abnormal blood vessel. To prevent the formation of scar tissue and damage to retina, the surgeon rotates the retina in a healthy area.

The healing process may take three to six weeks. The doctor may request for an angiogram after the macular surgery to make sure that there are no additional blood leakage in the area. An additional laser treatment maybe performed if a problem was observed.

Macular degeneration is a medical condition resulting to loss of vision making it difficult to read and recognize faces. To better understand the patient's condition, print out some letters six inches high and try to identify them while looking it at straight ahead. Hold the paper slightly to the side. This visual impairment does not lead to total blindness and in most cases some vision remains.

This disease mostly affects older and adults 50 years old and above. In a recent study for macular degeneration it was found out that those patients aging sixty six to seventy four suffer from this illness. Mostly women are prone to macular degeneration compare to men and smokers of any gender are also part of the growing list as tobacco increase the risk in three folds due to the toxic effects in retina. It is even 50% risky for those who have relatives with muscular degeneration to develop the illness compare to those who doesn't have with only 12% probability. Caucasians are more prone to develop macular degeneration compare to other races.

Other than age and family history, there are factors that cause macular degeneration. These includes hypertension or commonly known as high blood pressure, obesity, and high fat intake.

Ophthalmologists diagnose macular degeneration by looking at the abnormal vessels under the retina. A dye is injected in the arm of the patient where pictures are taken by a special camera until it reaches the eye. Any changes in the retina as shown from the photographs taken will serve as a guide for treatment.