As you age, your whole body, including your eyes, undergoes changes. That’s why it’s so important to stay on top of your eye health, so you don’t encounter any problems that could have been prevented along the way.
One part of your eyes that can change with advancing age is your retina, the light-sensing tissue at the back of your eye that allows you to convert light into signals your brain can “see.” A particularly sensitive area is the macula, the central 2% of the retinal tissue that provides your clear central vision.
At Retina Specialists, our team of board-certified ophthalmologists are experts in retinal care, including macular disease. It’s because we believe it’s important that everyone understands the importance of eye health that we recommend a yearly comprehensive dilated eye exam to stave off future problems.
Worried about your eye health after 50? Here’s what you need to know.
While most people think of cataracts, the clouding of the eye’s clear lens, as a sign of an aging eye, they can’t be prevented, and they don’t affect the retina. Treatment, though, is simple and effective — replacing the old lens with a new, clear one.
There are two primary age-related retinal problems of which you need to be aware: age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy. Both, if left untreated, have the ability to rob you of sight.
AMD affects the central part of your vision and is the leading cause of vision loss in patients 65 and older. It may develop in just one eye or both eyes. In addition to age, risk factors for developing the condition include:
Your peripheral (side) vision isn’t affected by the disease.
There are two types of AMD: dry (atrophic) and wet (exudative).
Nearly 90% of people with AMD have the dry form. It occurs when small yellow protein deposits, known as drusen, form under your macula. As the deposits build up, they dry and thin the macula.
Vision loss with the dry form tends to occur slowly over time, and most people don’t completely lose their central vision. In some cases, the dry form can change to the wet form.
Dry AMD comes in three stages. While you might not notice symptoms until the third stage, your ophthalmologist can detect early changes during a routine eye exam.
The three stages are:
The AREDS (Age-Related Eye Diseases Study) examined 4,000 people with dry AMD, and the researchers found that a vitamin formula containing antioxidants and zinc (now available as the AREDS 2 supplement), could slow vision degeneration by about 25%. Until recently, this has been the only treatment for the dry form.
Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and macula. The vessels ooze blood and fluid, causing the macula to bulge out. You may see dark spots in your central vision, and straight lines may appear wavy. This is a more advanced and severe form of AMD than the dry type, and it can lead to a rapid, total loss of your central vision.
The wet form, like the dry form, can’t be cured. However, for the wet form, medications exist that can treat it and keep your vision stable.
The major class of drug used is antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), which is given as an injection into the eye. A repurposed colon cancer drug, it blocks the production of VEGF, a protein that produces new blood vessels.
The doctor numbs your eye, then injects the medication into the vitreous humor, the central part of your eye. Regular injections can prevent vision deterioration, though they can’t reverse any damage that’s already been done.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes that damages the retina’s blood vessels. Sustained high blood sugar levels make the blood vessels swell, leak, grow abnormally, or become blocked. About half of all diabetics will develop eye-related complications, and diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss for those under 65.
Early detection of AMD and diabetic retinopathy means early treatment and better outcomes. Yearly comprehensive exams are the key to staving off problems.
To learn more about how to keep your retina — and the rest of your eyes — healthy as you age, or to schedule an appointment with Retina Specialists, give us a call at any of our locations (Dallas, DeSoto, Plano, Mesquite, and Waxahachie, Texas).
