Macular Degeneration is a rather common eye-related disease that can cause severe vision loss or even blindness in some cases. The National Eye Institute reports that approximately 1.75 million adults within the United States are affected by age-related macular degeneration, the most common kind of this disease. Another type of macular degeneration has also been identified, known as Stargardt disease – this particular type of this disease affects younger people, while age-related macular degeneration is more common in older individuals.
Symptoms Of Macular Degeneration
One particular problem that medical experts have with macular degeneration is the fact that the disease usually does not cause any symptoms to develop in the early developmental stages. This is why eye examinations at a frequent time interval are vital as an eye specialist are able to detect signs of macular degeneration, even when no symptoms are present. When symptoms do become present, the following may be experienced:
- Contract sensitivity, which is a symptom that makes it harder to properly identify textures in certain environments.
- Unable to perform daily activities, such as cooking and reading, without turning up the brightness of your lights.
- A defect in your visual field is also a common symptom.
- An impairment in your depth perception can also be a sign that you are developing macular degeneration.
Causes And Risk Factors Of Macular Degeneration
Since macular degeneration is a serious health condition, knowing the causes and, of course, the risk factors of this disease can help a person determine if they are at a higher risk of developing this disease. This also allows you to avoid certain factors that can increase your risk of macular degeneration. It is important to note that macular degeneration comes in two forms – age related, sometimes referred to as AMD, and then Stargardt disease, which is often seen in younger individuals – the risk factors of these two do defer in some cases.
The American Macular Degeneration Foundation reports that age plays one of the most significant roles in the risk of obtaining this disease. The disease most commonly affects individuals over the age of 55. Apart from age, other factors also play a role – such as genetics and a person’s race. Smoking, which is an environmental factor, makes a person two times more likely to develop macular degeneration.
As for the cause of macular degeneration – this topic is still somewhat of a mystery to medical experts as further research is still being conducted to determine exactly why the macula’s cells start to deteriorate. Medical experts have been able to determine that Stargardt disease is caused by genetic factors.
Treatment Options
At the moment, macular degeneration is considered to be an irreversible disease that cannot be medically “cured”. The progression of the disease can, however, be slowed down so that the symptoms do not get worse. These treatments may include:
- Macugen
- Lucentis
- An implantable telescope
- Eylea
- Visudyne
- Laser treatment
Bioresonance Therapy
Bioresonance therapy has been used to treat a large number of different conditions, including macular degeneration. This technology is used on particular points on the body in order to help prevent the disease from progressing any further and, in some cases, to also improve the vision of a person whose vision has been affected by macular degeneration. For example, a doctor was able to completely stop the progression of the disease in a female patient aged 60.
Conclusion
Macular degeneration can cause complete vision loss, which impairs a person’s ability to conduct many daily activities. It can also produce various unpleasant symptoms in the early stages, which can have an adverse impact on a person’s general abilities. Bioresonance therapy seems to be an effective way to treat this method without having to worry about side-effects or complications with medical treatment options.