This is also known as senile macular degeneration occurring in people 59 yrs and above. As we already know macula or the “yellow spot” is situated in the posterior pole of the retina. It is bout 5.5 mm in diameter At the centre of the macula is the foveola which is also known as the foveal avascular zone as it contains no retinal capillaries.

It is usually a bilateral condition. It is the leading cause of blindness. It can be exudative or non-exudative.

There are two types of age-related macular degeneration [ARMD] -

1> Exudative macular degeneration:

Exudative type is also called wet or neovascular ARMD. It is associated with comparatively rapidly progressively marked loss of vision. Diagnosis is made by examining the macula by slit-lamp biomicroscopy with a +90/+78D non-contact lens or Mainster contact lens. Fundus fluorescein angiography is also effective in diagnose the condition.

2> Non-exudative macular degeneration:

Non-exudative type is also known as dry or geographic ARMD and is more common. It causes mild to moderate gradual loss of vision. The patients may complain of distorted vision, difficulty in reading due to central shadowing.

Treatment for Macular Degenration

There is no effective treatment for non-exudative ARMD.

There are a few options for exudative ARMD:

- dietary supplements and antioxidants like vitamins and minerals [vitamin C and E, beta carotene, zinc and copper]
- argon green-laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, transpupillary thermotherapy etc n few surgical n pharmacological modalities are also available.

Suggested Further Reading:

1> Article on Macular degeneration on About.com.

2> Information on Macular Degenration on Wikipedia.