Exudative macular degeneration
Exudative macular degeneration, also known as wet AMD, is a serious eye disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. It’s crucial to understand this condition and seek timely treatment to minimize vision loss. Here’s what I can share:
What is Exudative Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
- It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow behind the macula, leaking fluid and damaging the light-sensitive cells.
- This disrupts central vision, causing symptoms like blurred or distorted vision, central scotomas (blind spots), and difficulty seeing fine details.
- While age is the biggest risk factor, other factors like smoking, family history, and high blood pressure can contribute.
Symptoms:
- Painless, gradual vision loss, often described as blurry, distorted, or wavy, especially in the central field of vision.
- Straight lines appearing bent or crooked (metamorphopsia).
- Difficulty recognizing faces or reading.
- Central scotomas (blind spots) in the central vision.
Diagnosis:
- Early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment.
- Eye exams with dilated pupils, specialized imaging tests like retinal angiograms and OCT scans, and visual acuity tests are used for diagnosis.
Treatment:
- Early intervention is key to slowing vision loss and preserving vision.
- The main treatment options involve:
- Anti-VEGF injections: These injections block the growth of abnormal blood vessels, the primary cause of fluid leakage.
- Photodynamic therapy: A laser treatment used in specific cases.
- Laser surgery: Used in rare cases for specific types of abnormal blood vessels.
Prognosis:
- With early diagnosis and proper treatment, vision loss can be slowed or even prevented in many cases.
- However, some vision loss may be irreversible, highlighting the importance of early detection.
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