What is the Macular Test?

The question of what the macular test is falls among the subjects people suffering from this condition wonder about. The macula can deform with age, which is called macular degeneration. This condition falls among the retinal conditions affecting central vision. It generally appears after the age of fifty and becomes more common with age. If the macula, that is to say macular disease, is not treated, it can lead to sight loss. The anatomy of the eye is made up of many layers, and in every layer there are structures with important parts to play in vision. Its full name, macula lutea, means yellow spot and comes from its colour. The macula is the central part of the retina. This condition is generally seen in older people, and methods of treatment are applied according to the person's situation. The macular test is a method used to assess this condition. It is also called the Amsler grid test. In it, the patient looks at the dot in the middle of a sheet of squared paper, and the degree to which those lines bend or break is assessed. Beyond that, tests such as an examination of the back of the eye and optical coherence tomography are carried out as well.

Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

Many symptoms are seen among the symptoms of macular degeneration. Because some of them can also be seen in other eye conditions, a specialist doctor should always be seen so that what the problem is can be understood. The symptoms appear as sight loss. The person begins to be unable to see as clearly as before. They begin to see some objects as bent and lines as broken. They experience darkening in front of the eye. In some situations the depth of their vision is lost. Affecting the quality of vision to a great degree, this condition can also cause colours to look pale. People with these symptoms should see a specialist ophthalmologist as soon as possible and go through a detailed examination, because many situations with these symptoms, such as cataract and a retinal tear, can appear in the eye. Attending a detailed examination matters in order to understand which problem these symptoms arise from. Macular degeneration appears above all in people over fifty, and environmental factors can lead to it as well. The likelihood of macular degeneration is greater in people in the following situations:

• People aged fifty and over
• Systemic conditions affecting vision
• People who smoke and drink heavily
• Genetic predisposition
• Patients with high blood pressure

Eating healthily, taking exercise and staying away from harmful habits all matter a great deal in staying well. Staying away from harmful habits that would affect the body's systems therefore lowers the risk of macular degeneration and similar conditions forming. It is not possible to prevent macular degeneration, which arises with age and genetic predisposition, or to remove it entirely. The other risk factors can be brought under control, however. Where there is high blood pressure, that situation can be controlled, and by staying away from harmful habits the condition can be held off. Beyond these, filtered sunglasses should be used in the sun. Looking directly at light or being exposed to sunlight can also cause many eye conditions.

Types of Macular Degeneration

The types of macular degeneration are examined in two different categories. It has two different types, wet and dry. Dry macular degeneration is seen in around ninety per cent of cases, while wet macular degeneration is seen in around ten per cent. Because of the risk of sight loss, however, early diagnosis of wet macular degeneration matters. Regular eye check-ups should therefore not be neglected at any age, and attending routine check-ups matters for early diagnosis. In wet macular degeneration the condition advances more quickly. That leads to sudden sight loss, and problems begin to occur in colour vision. Over time the vessels forming in the retina and the macula cause bleeding, bringing serious problems with them.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Macular Degeneration

The diagnosis and treatment of macular degeneration differ with the situation and with the person. In macular degeneration, which has two different types, wet and dry, the most important factor affecting the state of treatment is a detailed examination. Through examinations with drops and additional imaging, the trouble in the eye is detected at once. Once the right diagnosis has been made, treatment planning begins. Accurate diagnosis of macular degeneration is made with an examination using drops. In an examination of the back of the eye with drops, a special drop is placed on the corneal layer at the front of the eye. Thanks to the drop the pupil widens and the doctor is able to see the whole retina comfortably. Macular degeneration can be diagnosed through an examination of the back of the eye with drops. Another method used in treatment is an injection of Avastin. In this method medication is injected into the eye, and thanks to it the abnormal development of the vessels at the back of the eye is prevented. Situations such as swelling and bleeding of the vessels of the eye are thereby held off. This method is generally considered suitable for most people and is used to slow macular degeneration. Another method of diagnosis is the macular vision test. Also known as the Amsler grid test, it consists of these stages:

• The lenses or glasses normally used are worn.
• In a well-lit setting, the paper used for the Amsler test is held 30 to 40 centimetres in front of the face.
• One eye is covered with one hand and the open eye focuses on the dot in the middle of the paper.
• Whether all four corners of the squares in the grid are visible, and whether the lines are straight or broken, is established.
• The same procedure is applied to the other eye.

Because people with advanced macular degeneration risk experiencing sight loss, early diagnosis of wet macular degeneration matters a great deal.

• There is no treatment that stops dry macular degeneration; at the intermediate stage, however, the vitamin and mineral supplement known as the AREDS formula can slow its progression.
• In wet macular degeneration, intraocular injection treatments and the method known as photodynamic therapy are applied.

In photodynamic treatment, a special medication is first given through a vein and low intensity laser treatment is applied. In intraocular injection treatment the eye is numbed with drops. This procedure is generally well tolerated, although mild discomfort may be felt. Although it is not possible to be rid of macular disease completely, the progression of the condition can be slowed. Suitable methods of treatment according to the type, and sometimes surgical procedures, can be applied for that purpose.