Macula degeneration
Macula degeneration Treatment Brisbane
What is macular degeneration?
Macular degeneration is the name given to a group of eye diseases that affect the retina. Commonly referred to as age-related macular degeneration, this disease typically develops with age and is the leading cause of vision loss in people aged over 50.
Macular degeneration causes progressive loss of central vision, making it difficult to read, drive, see faces and perform activities that require detailed vision. The disease does not cause total blindness, as the peripheral and side vision remains intact.
There are two types of macular degeneration: dry and wet.
Dry macular degeneration is more common, making up 85-90 percent of all cases. People with the dry form may have yellow deposits in their macula, which leads to the gradual loss of central vision. Unfortunately, there is no current treatment available for the dry form.
Wet macular degeneration makes up only 10-15 percent of cases. While less common, the wet form is far more severe and occurs when fragile blood vessels form and leak blood or fluid under the retina. If left untreated, this can lead to rapid loss of central vision. The Wet ARMD does have a treatment available to prevent worsening of central vision. This involves a very small injection of medicine into the eye which stops further leaking of the membranes which have formed. This quick procedure can be done in the clinic treatment room using local anaesthetic and is in most cases repeated every 1-3 months.
What causes macular degeneration?
The causes of macular degeneration are not yet fully understood, however, increasing age is the most significant risk factor. It also may be genetic, as the disease tends to cluster in families. Other risk factors for macular degeneration include smoking, obesity, having high blood pressure or cholesterol, being light-skinned, having light coloured eyes or being female.
What are the symptoms of macular degeneration?
As macular degeneration develops slowly, you may not experience any noticeable signs at first. Oftentimes, macular degeneration isn’t diagnosed until it gets worse or begins to affect both eyes. As the disease worsens, you may begin to notice vision changes, including:
- Gradual worsening of vision. Your vision may be blurry, or it may be harder to read fine print or drive
- Distorted vision
- Dimming colour vision
- Dark, blurry or empty space in the central field of vision
If you experience any of these, please talk to your eye doctor.
How is macular degeneration diagnosed?
Dr Jayne Camuglia can check for macular degeneration during a routine eye exam. She will give you some eye drops to dilate your pupils before checking your eyes for macular degeneration and other eye diseases. If she does suspect macular degeneration, she may also complete either an angiography or OCT test, which allows her to see pictures of the blood vessels in your retina.
As you age, it is extremely important to undergo regular eye exams, especially if you have a family history of macular degeneration. Early diagnosis of this disease can help stop further damage and prevent blindness.
Is macular degeneration preventable?
While you can’t necessarily prevent macular degeneration, you can lower your risk by making healthy choices. This includes getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet rich in fish, fresh fruit and leafy vegetables, maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels and quitting smoking. Also, learn about your family’s eye health history: if macular degeneration runs in your family, be sure to undergo more regular screening.
How is macular degeneration treated?
Macular degeneration is incurable, however, treatment efforts can prevent further vision loss. Keep in mind that there is currently no treatment available for dry macular degeneration, only the wet form. If you do have wet macular degeneration, Dr Jayne Camuglia will determine and discuss a treatment plan with you depending on the severity of your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually, the best treatment for macular degeneration is called anti-VEGF therapy. Anti-VEGF injections are administered into the eyes to prevent new blood vessel growth, which can minimise fluid leakage in the retina.
To begin the procedure, Dr Jayne Camuglia will numb your eyes with anaesthetic drops and clean your eyes with an iodine solution. She will position an instrument called a speculum to hold the eyes open so that you do not blink during the procedure. Dr Camuglia will then guide a very fine needle into your eyeball to administer the anti-VEGF medication. This is relatively painless, although you may feel pressure or a slight sting during the injection.
When you first begin treatment, you may require monthly injections. As your vision begins to stabilise, you will require treatments less frequently.
Before your anti-VEGF injections, Dr Jayne will let you know of any steps you may need to prepare. Although this is a minimally invasive procedure, you will be given an anaesthetic and cannot drive afterwards. Please arrange for alternative transportation to and from your appointment.
Following your anti-VEGT injections, your eyes may feel a little sore, and your vision may be a little foggy. However, Dr Jayne Camuglia will provide eye drops to help with any discomfort. You can also place a cool, clean washcloth over the eyes for 10 minutes every half hour for further relief.
As she administers the injections, Dr Camuglia may hit a blood vessel in the eye. This may leave a small red spot in the injection site, however, this should disappear within two weeks. This is a common and harmless side effect, so long as you do not experience any pain or vision changes.
No procedure is without risk. Although complications after macular degeneration injections are uncommon, they may include:
- Eye pain
- Eye bleeding
- Light sensitivity
- Increased eye pressure
- Moving spots in vision (floaters)
- Vision changes
- Eye infection
If you notice anything abnormal following your macular degeneration injections, you should get in touch with Dr Jayne Camuglia immediately.
Dr Jayne Camuglia is a General Adult and Paediatric Ophthalmologist with a particular interest in macular degeneration. If you believe that you may have macular degeneration, please get in touch to see Dr Camuglia today.