What is age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?
When people are asked which of their senses they would least like to do without, they usually name their eyesight. The eyes are our most important window to the world - and a miracle of evolution. One of the most common causes of blindness in Germany is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Everything about diagnosis and risk factors.
What is age-related macular degeneration?
Age-related macular degeneration is a widespread eye disease. This disease causes progressive loss of vision in the central field of vision. At the back of the eye - on the retina - is the so-called macula, also known as the "yellow spot" . This is the part of the eye responsible for sharp vision. This is where the greatest density of "cones" - the light receptors needed for the precise recognition of faces, writing, etc. - is found. Outside the macula there are more "rods". These sensory cells allow us to recognize movement and contrasts in particular. With macular degeneration, patients therefore initially retain the ability to distinguish between light and dark - but their sharp vision gradually decreases.
How is AMD diagnosed?
The diagnosis of AMD is of course made by an ophthalmologist. The first step is to ask questions about symptoms and accompanying illnesses. Typical symptoms include a blurry, cloudy spot in the central field of vision or the vision of distorted lines. Illnesses such as diabetes or high blood pressure can give the doctor further clues in the diagnosis. The doctor will then use further diagnostic tools to rule out other illnesses or obtain indications of AMD: This includes measuring the intraocular pressure, as well as fluorescence angiography, which can make the thin blood vessels in the eye visible. Funduscopy or optical coherence tomography (OCT) can also be used. Before going to the ophthalmologist, you can check for yourself whether there is any justification for suspecting AMD: for example, by doing a self-test with a grid line chart . This way you can see whether your field of vision is distorted.
An elderly gentleman undergoing an ophthalmological examination.
Can age-related macular degeneration be treated or stopped?
The treatment of age-related macular degeneration varies depending on the form of the disease: While there is currently no effective cure for dry AMD, the progression of wet AMD can be slowed in many patients through the targeted use of medication. The main drugs used are so-called VEGF inhibitors. The medication is injected directly into the eye by the ophthalmologist, where it blocks the formation of new blood vessels. Overall, doctors recommend reducing risk factors that have a negative impact on eye health: These factors include smoking, high blood pressure and obesity, as well as an unhealthy diet.
What are the main risk factors for AMD?
In recent years, various studies have identified numerous factors that increase the risk of eye disease. Many of these factors - such as age - are beyond your control, but you can effectively minimize your risk for other factors. One of the biggest environmental influences on eye health is UV radiation. These invisible components of sunlight are particularly harmful to the macula, as the incoming light is concentrated at the focal point and the energy in the retina can create so-called "free radicals". These dangerous substances can also be released into the eye by air pollutants or cigarette smoke. For this reason, the risk of eye disease is significantly higher for smokers than for non-smokers. Obesity and high cholesterol levels can also promote age-related macular degeneration. Your ophthalmologist can also assess the effects of concurrent diseases on your eye health. High blood pressure or diabetes, for example, play an important role here.
Which diet is good for eye health
A balanced diet is also fundamentally important for eye health. Vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and selenium help protect cells from oxidative stress. Vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, biotin and vitamin B3 (niacin) contribute to the normal function of the nervous system, for example the optic nerve. A lot of vitamin C can be found in numerous fruits - such as kiwis and lemons - but also in many vegetables, such as broccoli, peppers or sauerkraut. High concentrations of vitamin E can be found in vegetable oils or nuts, for example. Various trace elements also support our eye health. Zinc contributes to normal carbohydrate metabolism, which is also important for the eyes. Zinc is found in dairy products, beef and shellfish.
