Page 100 - Life_In_Naples_Magazine_January_2015
P. 100
Age-related Macular Degeneration:
What you need to know
by Dr. Jaclyn Kovach
A ge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of between AMD and some lifestyle choices. You might be
irreversible vision loss among Americans age 50 and older and able to reduce your risk of AMD or slow its progression
likely affects over 30,000 individuals in Naples. This condition by avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a
causes damage to the macula, a small spot near the center of the normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and eating a
retina, which is a tissue that lines the inside back portion of the eye similar to healthy diet rich in green, leafy vegetables and fish.
wallpaper. Researchers at the National Eye Institute tested
The macula is composed of millions of light-sensing cells that provide whether taking nutritional supplements could protect
sharp, central vision. It is the most sensitive part of the retina, which turns against AMD in the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies
light into electrical signals that are sent through the optic nerve to the brain, (AREDS and AREDS2). They found that daily intake
where they are translated into the images we see. of certain high-dose vitamins and minerals can slow the
As AMD progresses, a blurred area near the center of vision is a common progression of the disease. People with a diagnosis of
symptom. Over time, the blurred area may grow larger and blank spots may AMD should take the following clinically-proven vitamin
develop in the central vision. AMD by itself does not lead to total blindness, supplementation regimen which is offered over-the-
however, the loss of central vision in AMD can interfere with simple everyday counter by several companies (Bausch & Lomb, Alcon).
activities, such as the ability to drive, read, and write. • 500 mg of vitamin C
Age is a major risk factor for AMD. The disease is most likely to occur • 400 IU of vitamin E
after age 55. Other risk factors for AMD include smoking, Caucasian race, • 80 mg zinc
positive family history for the condition, and even elevated blood pressure and • 2 mg copper
cholesterol may play a role. • 10 mg lutein
AMD is most often diagnosed prior to the development of visual symptoms, • 2 mg zeaxanthin
when a retina specialist performs a dilated eye exam and examines the person’s
macula. This is why it is important for everyone over age 55 to have yearly, This vitamin regimen is currently the only FDA-
dilated eye examinations. In addition to checking visual acuity during the eye approved treatment for non-neovascular AMD.
exam, the ophthalmologist will perform an Amsler grid evaluation. Changes Almost 10 years ago, treatment of wet AMD
in central vision may cause the lines in the grid to disappear or appear wavy, a (neovascular AMD) by medications injected into the
sign of AMD. An optical coherence tomography test will also be performed eye became standard of care. With neovascular AMD,
during the visit. This quick and painless imaging modality projects light waves abnormally high levels of vascular endothelial growth
onto the macula, creating an image of your macula at a microscopic level. This factor (VEGF) are secreted in the eyes. VEGF is a
is one of the most sensitive ways of diagnosing AMD in its earliest form. protein that promotes the growth of new abnormal
During the eye exam, the retina specialist will look for drusen, which are blood vessels. Anti-VEGF injection therapy blocks this
yellow deposits under the macula. Most people develop some very small drusen growth. Multiple monthly injections are usually required.
as a normal part of aging. The presence of medium drusen indicates the first Before each injection, the eye is numbed and cleaned
stage of AMD, known as early AMD. People with early AMD typically do with antiseptics. A few different anti-VEGF drugs are
not have vision loss. Another sign of AMD is the appearance of pigmentary available, including bevacizumab (Avastin), ranibizumab
changes under the retina. The development of these changes and the presence (Lucentis), and aflibercept (Eylea). They vary in cost and
of large drusen are indicative of progression to intermediate AMD. Most in how often they need to be injected, so you may wish
people with intermediate AMD will not experience any symptoms. to discuss these issues with your retina specialist. It is
People with late AMD suffer vision loss from two causes: damage to important to remember that even though these therapies
the light-sensing cells of the retina, called geographic atrophy and/or the increase the chance of vision preservation, they are not a
development of wet AMD. In wet AMD (also called neovascular AMD), cure for wet AMD.
abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula. These vessels leak fluid and Age-related macular degeneration is a common
blood, which leads to swelling and damage of the light-sensing cells in the and potentially devastating condition. The only way to
macula. The damage may be rapid and severe, unlike the more gradual course decrease the risk of developing AMD is to lead a healthy
of geographic atrophy. It is possible to have both geographic atrophy and lifestyle. The best way to maximize visual potential with
neovascular AMD in the same eye, and either condition can appear first. It is the condition is to get regular eye exams and treatment,
also possible to have one eye with a later stage of AMD than the other. as needed, and to visit your retina specialist if you notice
Right now, there is no cure for AMD. Researchers have found links any sudden changes in your vision or on your Amsler grid.
100 Life in Naples | January 2015
What you need to know
by Dr. Jaclyn Kovach
A ge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of between AMD and some lifestyle choices. You might be
irreversible vision loss among Americans age 50 and older and able to reduce your risk of AMD or slow its progression
likely affects over 30,000 individuals in Naples. This condition by avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a
causes damage to the macula, a small spot near the center of the normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and eating a
retina, which is a tissue that lines the inside back portion of the eye similar to healthy diet rich in green, leafy vegetables and fish.
wallpaper. Researchers at the National Eye Institute tested
The macula is composed of millions of light-sensing cells that provide whether taking nutritional supplements could protect
sharp, central vision. It is the most sensitive part of the retina, which turns against AMD in the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies
light into electrical signals that are sent through the optic nerve to the brain, (AREDS and AREDS2). They found that daily intake
where they are translated into the images we see. of certain high-dose vitamins and minerals can slow the
As AMD progresses, a blurred area near the center of vision is a common progression of the disease. People with a diagnosis of
symptom. Over time, the blurred area may grow larger and blank spots may AMD should take the following clinically-proven vitamin
develop in the central vision. AMD by itself does not lead to total blindness, supplementation regimen which is offered over-the-
however, the loss of central vision in AMD can interfere with simple everyday counter by several companies (Bausch & Lomb, Alcon).
activities, such as the ability to drive, read, and write. • 500 mg of vitamin C
Age is a major risk factor for AMD. The disease is most likely to occur • 400 IU of vitamin E
after age 55. Other risk factors for AMD include smoking, Caucasian race, • 80 mg zinc
positive family history for the condition, and even elevated blood pressure and • 2 mg copper
cholesterol may play a role. • 10 mg lutein
AMD is most often diagnosed prior to the development of visual symptoms, • 2 mg zeaxanthin
when a retina specialist performs a dilated eye exam and examines the person’s
macula. This is why it is important for everyone over age 55 to have yearly, This vitamin regimen is currently the only FDA-
dilated eye examinations. In addition to checking visual acuity during the eye approved treatment for non-neovascular AMD.
exam, the ophthalmologist will perform an Amsler grid evaluation. Changes Almost 10 years ago, treatment of wet AMD
in central vision may cause the lines in the grid to disappear or appear wavy, a (neovascular AMD) by medications injected into the
sign of AMD. An optical coherence tomography test will also be performed eye became standard of care. With neovascular AMD,
during the visit. This quick and painless imaging modality projects light waves abnormally high levels of vascular endothelial growth
onto the macula, creating an image of your macula at a microscopic level. This factor (VEGF) are secreted in the eyes. VEGF is a
is one of the most sensitive ways of diagnosing AMD in its earliest form. protein that promotes the growth of new abnormal
During the eye exam, the retina specialist will look for drusen, which are blood vessels. Anti-VEGF injection therapy blocks this
yellow deposits under the macula. Most people develop some very small drusen growth. Multiple monthly injections are usually required.
as a normal part of aging. The presence of medium drusen indicates the first Before each injection, the eye is numbed and cleaned
stage of AMD, known as early AMD. People with early AMD typically do with antiseptics. A few different anti-VEGF drugs are
not have vision loss. Another sign of AMD is the appearance of pigmentary available, including bevacizumab (Avastin), ranibizumab
changes under the retina. The development of these changes and the presence (Lucentis), and aflibercept (Eylea). They vary in cost and
of large drusen are indicative of progression to intermediate AMD. Most in how often they need to be injected, so you may wish
people with intermediate AMD will not experience any symptoms. to discuss these issues with your retina specialist. It is
People with late AMD suffer vision loss from two causes: damage to important to remember that even though these therapies
the light-sensing cells of the retina, called geographic atrophy and/or the increase the chance of vision preservation, they are not a
development of wet AMD. In wet AMD (also called neovascular AMD), cure for wet AMD.
abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula. These vessels leak fluid and Age-related macular degeneration is a common
blood, which leads to swelling and damage of the light-sensing cells in the and potentially devastating condition. The only way to
macula. The damage may be rapid and severe, unlike the more gradual course decrease the risk of developing AMD is to lead a healthy
of geographic atrophy. It is possible to have both geographic atrophy and lifestyle. The best way to maximize visual potential with
neovascular AMD in the same eye, and either condition can appear first. It is the condition is to get regular eye exams and treatment,
also possible to have one eye with a later stage of AMD than the other. as needed, and to visit your retina specialist if you notice
Right now, there is no cure for AMD. Researchers have found links any sudden changes in your vision or on your Amsler grid.
100 Life in Naples | January 2015
