Out of all the
debilitating diseases that can cause vision loss, Macular Degeneration is the
worst one. It affects a lot of people all over the world. In the U.S it affects
more people than Glaucoma and Cataract combined. However, this is not even the
most alarming part. The real issue is that we still don’t fully understand the
disease or any of its causes. This makes diagnosis a very hard thing until it
is too late.
Macular
Degeneration is of two main types – Wet macular degeneration and dry macular
degeneration. Most cases in the world are reported to be that of dry macular
degeneration and all cases of dry macular degeneration start out as wet macular
degeneration only. Macular Degeneration
mostly affects people over the age of 50 and it is usually diagnosed in its
later stages.
There are three
main manifestation stages for macular degeneration. They are Early AMD ( Age
related macular degeneration), Intermediate AMD
and Late AMD. In the early stage it is very difficult to diagnose
macular degeneration as there are no visible symptoms except for a yellow
deposit bellow the retina. That is why it is imperative that we have regular
eye check ups. In the intermediate stage, there are no noticeable sysmptoms.
The only way to detect macular degeneration at this stage is through an eye
check up. In the third and final stage, vision loss is a reality and your
vision will be impaired either by blurriness or by a big black spot right at
the center of your field of vision.
The causes for
this disease are relatively unknown but it is believed that the factors
contributing to the spread of the disease are largely genetic. Therefore much
research is being done in macular degeneration genetics.
Scientists are busy experimenting and noting the different ways in which patients
react to stimulus. The patients are obviously classified based on their genes.
Since 2005
several genetic variants have been consistently associated with macular
degeneration and the list keeps on growing. The first gene that was identified
is known as Y402H. It is sort of like the common theme among all the other
genes identified to be associated with Age related Macular Degeneration. We
still cannot confirm whether the disease is caused by faulty genetics. That is
the reason why some scientists have gone about exploring the possibility of
whetehr the disease is caused by a combination of environmental risk factors
and gene variants.
The cure to age
related macular degeneration genetics will only be found once we figure out
what causes it. Eventually we will figure it out. Until then we do have the
option of temporary medical assistance which will provide patients with some
form of relief.
