May is Macula month!
This month we are ramping up our efforts to educate on the important role of the macula and increase awareness to the different types of diseases that can impact it. The macula is small but mighty. Measuring only 5.5mm (about the size of a grain of rice) the macula is responsible for our central vision, fine detail and seeing colour. A healthy macula is essential for reading, driving and recognising faces.
Macular Disease
As the macula ages, it becomes more suspectable to degeneration and damage over time. Conditions that affect the macula include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macula oedema (DMO), macula holes and epiretinal membrane (macula pucker).
AMD is the most common macula disease, and it affects around 14% of people over 55 years of age. There are two types of macular degeneration, dry (atrophic) and wet (neovascular), which are broken down into stages. In the early and intermediate stages, there is a build-up of waste products in the macula, which can cause distortion to your vision as they increase in number and size. In late stage, the dry type or geographic atrophy, leads to patches of missing cells in the retina which causes vision loss, and the wet type (neovascular) results in new blood vessel growth underneath the retina. These vessels are weak and can leak fluid resulting in more rapid change and loss in vision.
Prevention and Treatment of AMD
Signs and symptoms of macular degeneration include distorted central vision, missing patches and difficulty recognising faces or reading text. If you notice any changes in your central vision, see your optometrist straight away. Early detection and treatment is key!
There are other modifiable risk factors, including UV exposure, smoking, poor diet, obesity and hypertension, which can all increase your risk of macular degeneration. There are other factors like genetics that we cannot change, so people who have someone in their family affected by macula disease are encouraged to get regular eye checks.
Nutrition plays a very important role in maintaining macula health and preventing degeneration. This can be achieved through a balanced diet, however, if your diet is lacking these key nutrients, there are supplements based on the Age-Related Eye Disease Study that may help:
Lutein and zeaxathin: Found in dark leafy veggies, kale, silver beet, broccoli, these carotenoids (pigments) act as antioxidants to help filter out the harmful UV and blue light reaching the macula
Omega-3: Eating oily fish 2-3x per week can reduce inflammation and reduce oxidative stress on the macula
Low GI Carbs: Most fruit and vegetables, whole grains and legumes are low GI, which results in steady blood sugar, protecting small blood vessels in the retina
If you are interested in more information about macular degeneration or if you or a family member is affected, you can get support from the Macular Disease Foundation via the link below.