Abstract

A CASE STUDY OF MACULAR DEGENERATION

Nilanjan Pahari*, Moumita Karmakar and Mainak Mondal

ABSTRACT

Macular degeneration also termed as age related macular degeneration (AMD), it’s a condition caused by loss of vision. It seems that it is incurable eye disease. The central portion of the retina is called Macula, it helps to focusing the central vision in the eye which helps to read or drive a car, operate machines and recognize the detailing of the color of any image. This is mainly caused by damaging the middle portion of the retina that record what we observed and send through the optic nerves from the eye to brain, which convert them as sight. When the central portion of the retina (Macula) is damaged, images are hazy, blurred or form no vision in the middle of the visual area. Macular degeneration is diagnosed by Digital Fluorescence Angiography (DFA) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Macular degeneration are two types, dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration. Around 80-90% people are suffering from dry macular degeneration (Atrophic) while other 10-15% people are wet (Exudative) type. Stargardt disease is the type of macular degeneration which is found in young people. Smoking, hypertension and sometimes side effect of the drug are the risk factor of macular degeneration or AMD. Treatment of AMD depends on the disease condition, now-a-days FDA approved drugs like Lucentis, Eylea, Macugen and Visudyne are used. The present study shows that macular degeneration is not related with age, diabetes, smoking and genetic.

Keywords: Age-related macular degeneration, digital fluorescence angiography (DFA), atrophic, exudative, Stargardt disease.