
What is Macular Degeneration?
The macula is the main part at the centre of the eye responsible for sight. Macular degeneration arises from the structural deterioration occurring…

Macular degeneration is characterised by damage to the central area of the retina. This condition affects central vision and usually occurs with age. The disease is divided into two types: dry type and wet type. The dry type is caused by the deterioration of cells in the macular layer, while the wet type is characterised by the formation of new, abnormal vessels, which can lead to leakage and loss of vision.
The most important risk factor of macular degeneration is age. If you are over 50 years of age, vision deteriorates with decreased vision, blurred macular vision, difficulty in reading and finally a black spot in the centre of vision. Smoking, exposure to sunlight, ultraviolet rays, light coloured eyes, hyperopia, hypertension, high cholesterol are among the causes of macular degeneration. If left untreated, advanced vision loss occurs. The aim of treatment is to slow the progression of the disease and preserve vision; in the wet type, injection treatment into the eye can improve vision in some patients. There are treatment methods to maintain the reduced vision at the current level. Tests such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus imaging are used for diagnosis.
It is seen in two forms as dry type and wet type. Most people have the dry or atrophic form, which causes the light-sensitive cells in the macula to decay and the retinal tissues to thin. Symptoms of dry macular degeneration may initially affect only one eye. There is a blurring of vision, especially in the centre, with a gradual loss of vision. Dry, blurred vision, difficulty in recognising faces or reading are among the first symptoms. The other eye may also be affected. As the disease progresses, a black spot may form in the centre of the visual field. Over time, this area expands and interferes with vision. However, a person with macular degeneration in one eye may not realise the loss of vision because they can see very well with the other healthy eye. Wet macular degeneration develops faster than the dry type. People with macular degeneration do not completely lose their vision; their ability to see from the edge continues.

The treatment method varies according to the type of macular degeneration. Accordingly, preventive treatment, intraocular injection therapy and photodynamic therapy can be applied. Macular degeneration can be diagnosed by eye tests. Colour tests can also be performed to see how well the cone cells in the retina are working.
Your doctor may suspect a dry macular degeneration if he or she sees small clumps of yellow deposits forming under the macula, or if he or she sees pigment fragments during a fundus examination. The use of the Amsler Grid diagram is the most important part of the examination. This diagram determines the vision impaired by macular degeneration. You will be asked to look at a dot in the centre of a grid. If you see wavy lines, you may have macular degeneration. With wet macular degeneration, the vessels leaking into the retina are diagnosed with the help of angiography. There is no treatment that stops dry macular degeneration; in the intermediate stage, a vitamin and mineral supplement known as the AREDS formula can slow its progression. However, this disease progresses very slowly and although there is a loss of central vision, the patients manage with their daily routine. Treatment options for wet macular degeneration disease include intravitreal injections and laser. Your doctor may recommend that you monitor your own condition at home, using the Amsler Grid diagram. Regular check-ups will help you to recognise if your condition is getting worse. Wet macular degeneration disease is more serious and is the result of abnormal blood vessels developing in the vascular layer beneath the retina and extending into the macula. These new vessels tend to leak fluid and blood, which can damage tissue cells. The result is loss of vision and internal scars. Visual impairment is the earliest sign of wet macular degeneration. Straight lines appear wavy and shapes may be distorted. Colours may become dull and a blind spot may appear in the centre of the focusing area.
Macular degeneration affects especially central vision due to deterioration in the macula region in the centre of the retina. Patients see a blurred or dark spot in the centre of the object they are looking at, making it difficult to make out details. This makes daily activities such as reading, face recognition and distinguishing fine details difficult. As macular degeneration progresses, the ability to distinguish colours may also decrease. Peripheral (side) vision is usually preserved for longer, so that patients can see movements from the sides. 
Macular degeneration is not contagious and cannot be passed to other people. The disease usually develops with age and is associated with various risk factors.
The injection is given within a few minutes into an eye numbed with drops, and it is usually not painful, although some people feel slight pressure or discomfort. Afterwards the eye may feel slightly gritty or look red, or a small bleed may appear where the needle went in; these usually settle on their own within a few days. Most people return to their daily activities the next day. Because the treatment is usually repeated at set intervals, it is important not to miss check-ups. If pain increases, vision drops noticeably or redness gets worse, contact your doctor straight away.
Macular degeneration disease treatment prices vary depending on the underlying cause and the operation to be performed. The treatment plan to be created by our specialist ophthalmologist depending on the detailed examination results may vary from person to person.
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The macula is the main part at the centre of the eye responsible for sight. Macular degeneration arises from the structural deterioration occurring…

The macula can deform with age, which is called macular degeneration. The macular test, also known as the Amsler grid test, is a method used to…

Macular disease, that is age-related macular degeneration, is the progressive degeneration of the photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium…
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