OPHTALMOLOGY CLINIC

Senile Macular Degeneration

What is Yellow Spot Disease

The yellow spot is the visual cortex, which is located behind our eyes and where the vision function that we call the retina occurs and which is seen the most clearly in the net layer and there are yellow substances inside. All diseases that degenerate this center are called macular degeneration.

Symptoms of Yellow Spot Disease

A few of the macular degeneration start in childhood and adulthood, but the age-related macular degeneration that we see most often occurs with the age of 60s. The most common and earliest symptom is not being able to see clearly, but seeing the middle of the objects bent, crooked, and seeing the middle of what is being looked at is dark. Following this, the quality and power of vision decreases over time, and the patient cannot read the distant objects, and becomes unable to read books.

Why Does Yellow Spot Disease Happen?

The most common reason is the degeneration of the yellow spot area with the increasing age. Besides, high point myopia and some congenital retinal patients may also have macular degeneration.

Risk factors in Yellow Point Disease

The most important risk factor for yellow spot disease is age. The older you are, the higher the risk of encountering this disease. It is more common in women. Smoking, high cholesterol, hypertension, long-term exposure to sunlight and vitamin deficient diet are other risk factors. Inheritance is also important.

Can you explain the types of macular degeneration?

It is 2 types. 80% of it is dry type, that is, the type that does not have bleeding, fluid accumulation or newly formed veins. 20% of it is wet type and this type has fluid accumulation, bleeding and newly formed but harmful vascular network. Dry type is relatively harmless and may turn into wet type over time. There are pathologies that can impair vision to an advanced degree in 85% of the wet type. If left untreated, the wet type is a dangerous type with high permanent damage rate.

When should I see a doctor?

Firstly, regular eye control is required every year after the age of 40. However, if there are complaints of decreased vision and dark, oblique, crooked vision of the objects, an eye-retina specialist should be seen immediately. Early diagnosis is very important.

What happens if untreated?

If the macular degeneration is not added to another disease, it will not result in blindness. However, it can turn a person into a person who lives dependent on others and cannot see the half-meter front. This significantly lowers the quality of life and takes the person away from all social life.

What is the frequency of the disease?

There is a prevalence of 30% after the age of 60, 40% after the age of 70, 50% after the age of 80 and 70% after the age of 90.

How is the macular degeneration treated?

The main treatment known for the wet type is intraocular drug injections that prevent newly formed harmful vascular development. There is no cure for dry type, but there are special vitamins for protective purposes.

Are there any new developments that can be used to increase vision in dry type macular degeneration?

Vitamins containing lutein are used for dry type macular degeneration. Apart from this, an intraocular lens has been developed that can be applied to increase the vision level. This intraocular lens application, called Eyemax-mono, increases the visual level by shifting the dark areas formed in the visual field from the center to the periphery in dry-type macular patients. This intraocular lens works like a small telescope, enhancing the vision by slightly enlarging the image and shifting the image to the sound areas of the retina, increasing the vision level. The healthy retina assumes the role of the visual cortex, called the macula, and provides a better central vision. This increased central vision increases the chances of daily activities such as driving, selecting faces and reading. Eyemax-mono application is a short-term operation and does not require hospitalization.

Is Eyemax-mono used in eye diseases beside dry type macular degeneration?

Wet-type macular degeneration that has been stably or actively treated
Diabetic (blood glucose-dependent) retinal disease that has been treated stably or actively
Retinal disease due to high myopia
Macular hole / Epiretinal membrane

In which conditions is Eyemax mono not applied?

Pregnancy
Untreated active wet type macular degeneration
Untreated active diabetic retinopathy disease

For Eyemax-mono application, vision levels must be within a certain range. In dry type macular degeneration, the size of the damaged area in the retina must be below a certain value. Consequently, it is necessary to decide whether the patients are suitable for examination or not before applying intraocular lenses.

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Senile Macular Degeneration

OPHTALMOLOGY CLINIC

0203 355 0505

Senile Macular Degeneration

0203 355 0505