Macular degeneration: Simple steps you can take today

Getting older can be the pits – while skin goes south, the price of everything goes north. Then there’s not being able to see like you used to. If you’re having more trouble than usual reading, writing or perhaps driving, it’s possible you may be experiencing macular degeneration. Macular degeneration, or MD, is the number one cause of vision loss in the world today.

While we can’t do much about inflation or your bottom travelling to your shoes, we can certainly give you tips on how to take care of your eyes, because this really will make a difference. If you notice that you’re experiencing any of the following, you can also pop down to your GP, because they have treatments too.

MD can be ‘wet’ or ‘dry’

MD is actually a general term that refers to several different conditions, which are classified according to the actual disease process occurring within the eye. In all conditions, the macular, or central part of the eye’s retina, is affected.

Slow vision loss is the most common and is known as ‘dry’ MD, while ‘wet’ MD is quite rapid and can unfortunately be quite severe.

Eye spy: Am I at risk of MD?

The jury is in and smoking is bad for everything – including the risk of developing MD. So if you’re worried about vision loss, that’s just another reason to quit smoking.

Julie Heraghty, Macular Degeneration Foundation CEO, said:

"One of the major controllable risk factors for developing macular degeneration is smoking. Studies have shown that those who smoke are three times more likely to develop MD, and smokers may also develop the disease ten years earlier than non-smokers."

Three times more likely! Need we say more?

Also, several studies have also found that a great diet filled with fish, green leafy vegetables, fruits and nuts, combined with moderate exercise, will help you keep your vision sharp.

MD is most common after 50, but altering your lifestyle can still help in a preventative sense. For example, if you spend a lot of time in the sun, wearing a hat and sunnies can reduce your risk.

As with nearly everything else, who and when MD effects can be largely genetic. You may think, "Then why should I bother?" Well, you should definitely bother, because even if you’re predisposed to something, how you eat, drink and exercise will make a definite difference as to how and when you may experience vision loss. So take care of yourself, because your eyes won’t care for excuses in the long run!

An eye for detail: Recognising the signs and symptoms

With dry MD, people often notice that it gets harder to read the newspaper. You may need extra light, or notice that colours just aren’t what they used to be. Wet MD is far more obvious, with lines becoming wavy or just experiencing general vision distortion.

But don’t wait until you can’t see – it’s annoying (and not just for you, your children might suggest). Go and get checked out, because the earlier you can catch it, the more you can prevent further vision loss.

Ms Heraghty said:

"If you are someone who has any of the risk factors for macular degeneration, you should have a regular eye test and make sure the macula is checked. A thorough eye examination can detect signs of MD before any symptoms are experienced. Most importantly, any changes in eye sight should not be dismissed as just ‘getting older’ – it could be MD, and the advice of an eye health professional should be sought without delay. Early detection and intervention can save sight."

MD in living colour

As yet, you can’t get a specific treatment for dry MD. This is why it’s so important to make sure you take care of yourself to prevent vision loss, rather than trying to sort it out after it’s too late.

So try stuff like:

Quit smoking;
Monitor and control blood pressure, if elevated;
Adopt a healthy lifestyle, including a nutritious diet, optimal weight control and regular exercise;
Use a hat and sunglasses as an added precaution;
Talk to your doctor about anti-oxidants. These have been shown to reduce further vision loss in some cases of intermediate macular degeneration; and
Implement household modifications, including establishing visual aids in the home, improving lighting, and using magnifying glasses, reading telescopes and other visual enhancers.

Wet MD is a little different, as there are treatments available. Ranibizumab (Lucentis) has been proven to be quite effective. Other treatments involve therapy, surgery and radiotherapy, so you do have options.

For those people with diabetes and diabetic macular degeneration, it is very important to achieve optimal control of blood sugar levels and engage a diabetes specialist team.

So talk to your doctor – they can refer you to an ophthalmologist. Sometimes we like to pretend we’re not getting older and it’s human for people to deny the inevitable, but unfortunately MD can’t be helped by buying a sports car. Open your eyes to save your eyes.

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