Wet macular degeneration
Wet macular degeneration is a chronic eye disease that causes loss of the central part of the visual field Wet macular degeneration is caused by abnormal blood vessels leaking fluid and blood into the macula The macula is located in the central part of the retina
Wet macular degeneration is one of two types of age-related macular degeneration. The second form of degeneration - dry macular degeneration is more common and less severe Wet macular degeneration almost always starts as dry macular degeneration It is not known what causes wet macular degeneration
Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the severity of vision loss and, in some cases, improve vision.
The causes of wet macular degeneration are unknown The condition almost always develops in patients with dry macular degeneration However, doctors cannot predict who will develop wet macular degeneration, how severe the condition will be, and when it will progress more quickly than dry degeneration.
Wet macular degeneration can develop in different ways:
- Vision loss caused by abnormal growth of blood vessels Wet macular degeneration can be caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels from the choroid, the layer of blood vessels that lies between the retina and the outer layer of the eye, the sclera. Vascular growth from the choroid may develop under the retina or directly into the macula This condition is called choroidal neovascularization The fluid interferes with the normal functioning of the retina and causes blurring of the central part of the field of vision When looking directly at the objects in the field of vision, the objects in the field of vision are curved, and the spots caused by macular degeneration blur the middle part of the field of vision.
- Vision loss caused by fluid build-up in the back of the eye Wet macular degeneration, in some cases, develops as a result of leakage of fluid from the choroid, which leads to the accumulation of fluid between the choroid and the thin cell layer - the retinal pigment epithelium This condition leads to detachment of the retinal pigment epithelium
- Fluid under the retinal pigment epithelium appears as a blister or bulge under the macula
Symptoms of wet macular degeneration usually appear and develop quickly Symptoms:
- Distortions of vision, such as bending straight lines, seeing objects as smaller or feeling as if they are further away than they really are
- Decreased central vision
- Decreased perception of color intensity or brightness
- Blurred or blind spot in the field of vision
- Rapid development
- Rapid deterioration
- In later stages of macular degeneration represented by geometric figures or people
