Macular degeneration is an ocular condition in which the central portion of the retina called the Macula breaks down occasioning in diminished vision. Generally, a genetic disposition is needed for the condition to befall and the severity will depend on both heredities and environmental aspects. Studies have long determined that aspects such as drug usage and smoking will precipitate the ailment to befall at earlier ages and will considerably make the vision worse. Smoking will upsurge the probability of the condition happening 300% and will also make it much worse than in a person that never smoked. There are also other less common kinds of macular degeneration, such as Sorsby’s disease, Best’s disease and Stargardt’s disease, which are genetic and can affect younger individuals. These are identified jointly as juvenile macular degenerative diseases. Extreme near-sightedness and other illnesses of the retina can also lead to the degeneration of the macula and while not to be muddled with age-related macular degeneration, can have the same end product of loss of central vision.

Dry Macular Degeneration

The “dry” or “atrophic” type of “macular degeneration” is typically recognized by yellowish deposits of debris in the retina. The material encompassing these deposits is generally carried away by the same blood vessels that carry nutrients to the retina. The success of this act appears to be lessened in circumstances of macular degeneration. There are numerous projected reasons for this including:

• Insufficient blood circulation in the retina
• Swelling
• Premature aging of the sight cells because of hereditary deficiencies
• Environmental aspects
• Dietary aspects
• Behavioral factors

One of the needs of your body for healthy life is Omega-3 fatty acids, something typically found in fish oils. A shortage of these oils can result in eye sicknesses, muscle weaknesses and skin issues, scratchy arms and legs and behavioral changes. Complementing your diet with a worthy source of Omega-3 will not only help improve your heart health and blood pressure but will be an advantage for your overall health and well being.

Macular degeneration treatments have improved in the last numerous years principally because this eye syndrome has become one of the principal reasons of blindness in individuals 50 years of age and older. With two types of the eye disease, macular degeneration that is referred to as the “wet” form of this eye ailment is treated with anti-VEGF drugs. These drugs such as Avastin and Lucentis are inoculated straight into the eye. Wet AMD is categorized by the formation of anomalous blood vessel growth as well as leakage. Treatments such as anti-VEGF drugs make the growth of these uncharacteristic blood vessels and the leakage paused. Wet AMD accounts for about 10 percent of the diagnosed circumstances, but leads to 90 percent of the sightlessness from this eye disease.

Dry macular degeneration befalls when drusen forms on the eye. This is the most common type of this eye disease, making for 90 percent of diagnosed cases and occasioning in only 10 percent of the sight lessness. There is no treatment for dry AMD but dietary supplements have been displayed to slow the evolution of this form of the eye disease. With the upsurge in the number of patients each year, research into new treatments for macular degeneration has become one of the fastest growth capacities. Research lingers and there have been sizeable advancements made in the anti-VEGF drugs as other pharmaceutical firms join the fight against this disease. Other researchers are reviewing drugs known as angiostatin corticosteroids, while others are reconnoitering more progressive forms of photo dynamic therapy. However, the most encouraging treatment for macular degeneration comes from innovation in using human stem cells. Can macular degeneration be cured with stem cells? Yes! Eye sicknesses such as ARMD damage the retina; particularly the eye disease impairs central vision. Human retinas impaired by this disease are inept to overhaul themselves. However, a report by researchers from the University of Washington recommends that the renaissance of impaired retinal cells might be possible using human stem cells. Using human embryonic stem cells and proteins to permit cell growth, researchers were able to grow cells that became progenitor cells for retinal cells. Inoculating these cells into an impaired mouse retina, these stem cells continued to develop into cones – retinal cells accountable for color. They also developed into rods – the cells that permit night vision. The stem cells also continued to develop into other retinal cells.

In summary, there are countless factors that can contribute to macular degeneration, but recent studies show that simple carbohydrates upsurge the probability of contracting and the severity of the condition. As with maximum ailments, eating the appropriate food will keep you healthier and avert some conditions. With this research, scientists hope to assess the nerve reactions and conclude if vision improved. If this proves to be efficacious, human tests using stem cells to overhaul retinas impaired by macular degeneration could befall within two or three years.