Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) Or Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in adults over the age of 60. Approximately one out of five people age 65 to 74, and one of three people over age 75 in this country will suffer some visual impairment due to Age Related Macular Degeneration. ARMD rarely affects people younger than 50 but is present to some degree in 30% of people at 75 with another 23% developing signs within 5 years of reaching 75.
The macula is a small circular zone of the retina where images are focused. It is the portion of the eye responsible for fine vision. In macular degeneration, clumps of yellowish cellular debris gradually accumulate within and beneath the retinal pigment epithelium. These deposits are visible to the clinician looking inside the eye as small yellow dots known as drusen.
Macular Degeneration affects both distance and close vision making some activities like driving, sewing, reading or watching TV difficult. Macular Degeneration by itself does not result in total blindness. Affected patients continue to have some useful vision and are generally able to take care of themselves.
There are two forms of Macular Degeneration, "wet" and "dry". About seventy percent of ARMD patients suffer from the "dry" form, which occurs when the retinal tissues thin with age. Certain nerve cells in the retina change, thinning of the macular tissues and disturbances in its pigmentation. Thirty percent experience the "wet" form, which can involve bleeding within and beneath the retina, opaque deposits, and eventually scar tissue.

ARMD develops differently in each person. Because it will affect different regions of the macula from person to person, the symptoms tend to vary. Declining vision noticed by the older people during a routine eye exam may be the first indicator of ARMD. The formation of new blood vessels and exudates from blood vessels in and under the macula is often the first physical sign that macular degeneration may develop. In addition, the following signs may be indicative of ARMD: 

There is no known effective Beneficial Effectsion for ARMD. Some scientists have suggested an association between macular degeneration and high saturated fat, low carotenoid pigments, and other substances in the diet. Some of the recommended lifestyle changes include stopping smoking, eating a well balanced diet that is rich in leafy green vegetables, especially spinach, the use of a daily vitamin supplement that rich in zinc, wearing sunglasses with ultraviolet absorbing lenses, taking regular, cardiovascular exercise, and reducing serum blood cholesterol levels.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), as the name described, occurs most often in older people. However, the problem of the eye may occur during middle age. It is thought to be family related, but may not necessarily be an inherited trait. Women tend to be at greater risk than men. Deposition of substances on the wall of blood vessel, leading to narrowing of blood vessel is a well-accepted risk factor for macular degeneration. Other risk factors are high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and being Caucasian.

Eye care professionals detect ARMD during an eye examination that includes: Visual acuity test: This eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances. Pupil dilation: This examination enables your eye care professional to see more of the retina and look for signs of ARMD. To do this, drops are placed into the eye to dilate (widen) the pupil. After the examination, your vision may remain blurred for several hours. Tonometry: This is a standard test that determines the fluid pressure inside the eye. Increased pressure is a possible sign of glaucoma, another common eye problem in people over age 60. One of the most common early signs of ARMD is the presence of drusen. Drusen are tiny yellow deposits in the retina. Your eye care professional can see them during an eye examination. The presence of drusen alone does not indicate a problem, but it might mean that the eye is at risk for developing more severe ARMD. While conducting the examination, your eye care professional may ask you to look at an Amsler grid. This grid is a pattern that resembles a checkerboard. You will be asked to cover one eye and stare at a black dot in the center of the grid. While staring at the dot, you may notice that the straight lines in the pattern appear wavy to you. This may be a sign of wet ARMD.

The macula’s fragile cells are highly susceptible to damage from oxygen–charged molecules called free radicals. Early research has shown that people with a low dietary intake of antioxidants, nutrients in food that fight the damaging effects of free radicals in the body, may be at increased risk of developing ARMD. Alcohol may also deplete the body of antioxidants. High levels of saturated fats and cholesterol harm blood vessels and are also involved in producing free radical reactions that can damage the macula.

If you smoke stop immediately. A recent study showed that smoking, which reduces protective antioxidants in the eye, more than doubles the risk of ARMD. The study found that ARMD is more than twice as common in people who smoke more than one pack of cigarettes a day, compared with people who do not smoke, and the risk remains high even up to 15 years after quitting.

The quality of our lives is what matters. Having an optimistic outlook on life Enhances tremendously. As with all problems it is good to have a positive outlook and a strong will. ARMD is a highly frustrating condition, which greatly affects your day–to–day living by making it difficult to read, write, drive, and recognize faces. You may also develop problems seeing in bright sunlight or glare, and find it harder to adapt from dark to light conditions. While you cannot change your age, your sex, or your family tree, there are some changes you should bring about in your life to Enhance protect your eyes.

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