Middle-aged and elderly people should not ignore "incorrect vision", as this disease has a high rate of blindness!

We often say that "eyes are the windows to the soul"

But did you know

The core area of ​​this "window" - the macula

Is it quietly becoming the “invisible killer” of the eyesight of middle-aged and elderly people?

As we age

Many people attribute blurry vision to cataracts or presbyopia

But I overlooked another possibility

Macular degeneration

Once the disease progresses

May cause irreversible vision loss!

01

What is the macula and why is it important?

If the eye is compared to a sophisticated camera, the macula is the core area of ​​the "film". It is located in the center of the retina and appears dark yellow because it is rich in lutein.

Although it only occupies 20% of the retina, it carries more than 80% of the cones, which are responsible for fine vision and color perception. Once the macula is damaged, even if the lesion is small, it may cause blurred vision, distortion, or even loss of central vision, seriously affecting daily activities such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces.

02

Macular degeneration, who is the “black hand” behind it?

Macular degeneration is not a chloasma on the skin, but a degenerative lesion of the structure of the macula. Its occurrence is related to many factors:

Increasing age: The incidence rate is higher in people over 50 years old, and the risk increases with age.

Chronic diseases: Systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia can accelerate macular damage. For example, diabetic patients are prone to macular edema.

Bad habits: smoking, long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays, excessive use of eyes, etc. may induce or aggravate the disease.

Genetic factors: People who have family members with macular degeneration need to be extra vigilant.

03

Beware of these signals! Three major symptoms of macular degeneration

Decreased central vision: Things appear to be covered with fog, words become blurred when reading, and in severe cases, even the hands of a clock or the faces of relatives are difficult to recognize.

Distorted vision : straight lines become curved, edges of doors and windows become distorted, like a "funhouse mirror" effect, indicating abnormalities in the structure of the macula.

Dark shadow in the center of the visual field : A fixed dark spot or a sense of obstruction appears in front of the eyes, which is most obvious when looking straight ahead.

04

Scientific response: Macular degeneration is not a "terminal disease"

1. Accurate diagnosis

Through optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus angiography and other examinations, the type (dry/wet) and severity of macular lesions can be clearly determined. The dry type is mainly characterized by macular atrophy and progresses slowly; the wet type may cause blindness rapidly due to leakage and bleeding of abnormal new blood vessels.

2. Effective treatment

Anti-VEGF drugs: the first choice treatment for wet macular degeneration, which inhibit the growth of new blood vessels, reduce bleeding and edema, and save vision through intraocular injection.

Laser and photodynamic therapy: In certain cases, they can seal leaking blood vessels or slow the progression of lesions.

Key Tip: The earlier the treatment, the greater the chance of preserving vision! If treatment is delayed, permanent scarring may form in the macula, leading to irreversible loss of vision.

05

Prevention is better than cure: Protect your macula by starting with small things

Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke: Smokers have a 2-4 times higher risk of disease than non-smokers. Quitting smoking is the first step to protect the macula.

Dietary antioxidants: Eat more dark vegetables (such as spinach and kale), deep-sea fish (rich in Omega-3), nuts (containing vitamin E), and supplement with lutein and zeaxanthin.

Sun protection and eye protection: Wear UV-proof sunglasses during outdoor activities to reduce the cumulative damage of strong light to the macula.

Control chronic diseases and check regularly: Patients with three highs need to strictly control blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipids. People over 50 years old are recommended to have a fundus examination once a year.

Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital's fundus disease specialist reminds you: The early symptoms of macular degeneration are easy to be ignored, but through scientific treatment, most patients can effectively delay vision loss. If you experience visual distortion or central black shadows , be sure to seek medical attention in a timely manner, and do not blindly believe in "folk remedies" or wait. Protect the macula, protect the colors of life. If you or your family have abnormal vision, please go to a professional ophthalmology hospital for examination immediately, early detection, early intervention, so that clear vision is always with you!