Macular Degeneration

How Is It Caused?

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) resembles a wall, and is responsible for passing oxygen, sugar and other essentials to the retina. It also moves waste products away. Early stages of the condition are observed when waste products from the retina build up beneath the RPE. This forms yellow deposits, called drusen,

An eye test that checks the macula is vital, as drusen can build up un-noticed. Our expert optometrists Paul Fotkou and Loucia Calder, will examine the back of your eye for drusen using specialist optometric equipment. Small amounts of drusen do not necessarily cause visual symptoms, and not everyone with it will experience vision loss. However, it’s existence does increase the chance of macular degeneration associated vision loss developing later.

The later stages of macular degeneration can cause loss of vision. This is due to RPE cells dying, or failing to prevent blood vessels from growing under the retina.

Types of Macular Degeneration

When RPE cells die, retina cells above them also die, leading to patches of ‘missing retina’. This is known as dry macular degeneration – a slow form of the disease that causes a gradual loss of vision. It is responsible for one third of all cases. Those with dry macular degeneration can further develop the second form, wet macular degeneration. This occurs when RPE cells fail to stop choroidal blood vessels from growing under the retina. These rapidly growing vessels are fragile and ooze blood under the retina, causing scarring and severe loss of central vision. Wet macular degeneration is both sudden and severe. Approximately 21,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in Australia.

Who Is At Risk?

The three greatest risk factors of the eye condition are age, family history and smoking.

• People over the age of 50 are at a greater risk. One in seven Australian’s has evidence of this disease
• Those with a direct family history have a 50 percent chance of developing the disease. 70 percent of cases have a genetic link, therefore it is important to inform siblings and children if you have been diagnosed with it.
• Smokers are up to four times more likely to develop the condition. It may also develop at a younger age than in non-smokers,

How Is Macular Degeneration Diagnosed?

As drusen can build up unknowingly, it is detected through an eye test with an eye care professional. Therefore, it is vital to have regular eye and macula tests with an optometrist. Adelaide City Optometrist uses Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). An OCT is the industry standard in the diagnosis and management of macular degeneration. The scan produces high resolution, cross-sectional images of the tissue layers within the retina. This technology is exemplified in the video. 

Comparing such images over the years allows for changes in your eyes to be identified and monitored. As dry macular degeneration can turn into the wet form rapidly, you should immediately inform an eye care professional of any vision changes.