Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over 60 years of age. It is a disease that involves damage to the part of the retina called the macula, that controls the center field of vision. The disease damages the cells in the macula and over time can lead to blurry vision and dark spots.
For some people, as the name suggests, AMD can be acquired as part of the normal aging process. However, with AMD, there are both genetic and environmental macular degeneration causes.
One of the main macular degeneration causes is gene mutation. Nearly half of all patients with AMD have a gene mutation. This gene mutation is responsible for a protein within the immune system called Complement Factor H. This discovery was one of the most important findings in macular degeneration research to date. AMD research is being conducted on possible treatment for this gene mutation.
If you have or have had a prior retinal disease, you are at a higher risk of getting age-related macular degeneration. One example is Stargardt’s disease, which is also known as juvenile macular degeneration. Stargardt’s disease involves alterations of the peripheral retina, the onset of macular dystrophy, and subretinal deposits in younger people.
Another macular degeneration risk factor is race. Caucasians tend to get the disease more frequently than other races. Also, if you have have a family member who has or had AMD, you are at a significantly higher risk of having the disease. People who are in this category should receive regular eye examinations as early detection of macular degeneration is important.
There are a variety of ennvironmental macular degeneration risk factors including hight fat intakes, smoking, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Smoking is a signficant risk factor because it damages the retina. If you are a smoker, you are two to three more likely than a non-smoker to get AMD.
Obesity is also a signficiant risk factor. People with type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension, which are both commonly seen in obese people, are particularly at risk. They can lead to hypertensive retinopathy, among other eye diseases.