Macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma are the top three age-related eye diseases: Food and Drug Daily KFDN Food and Medicine News

Macular degeneration is a degenerative disease that causes vision problems due to changes in the macula, the center of the inner retina of the eye. Macular degeneration is considered one of the three leading geriatric eye diseases along with cataracts and glaucoma.

The macula is where the cells receive the most light and is about 1.5 mm in diameter and has a yellow color. It is responsible for 90% of vision and plays a role in differentiating colors and making objects appear clearly.

The exact reason has not been revealed yet. However, age, genetic predisposition, cardiovascular disease, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, exposure to ultraviolet rays, and low blood antioxidant concentration have been identified as risk factors. In particular, it is known that there is a significant increase after the age of 75.

Junmyeong Yoon (picture) professor of ophthalmology at Incheon St. Hospital said. Mary in the Catholic University of Korea, “Normally, changes occur in the macula as we age. , macular degeneration may be suspected.” “Vision decline due to age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration can increase the risk of depression, falls, and dementia, which can have a negative impact on overall quality of life,” it’s a warning. The last Saturday of September – 28 September this year – is ‘World Retina Day’. We will learn about preventing and managing macular degeneration with the help of Junmyeong Yoon, professor of ophthalmology at Incheon St. Hospital. Mary’s, The Catholic University of Korea.

◇ If macular degeneration occurs, it is difficult to regain previous vision… Early self-examination is important

The number of patients with macular degeneration in Korea is increasing rapidly. According to the Health Insurance Review and Evaluation Service, the number of people who visited hospitals due to macular degeneration in Korea increased by 148.1% or 290,000 over four years from 200,471 in 2019 to 497,338 in 2023. According to by age group, those in their 60s or older made up 89.3% of the total, including 36.4% in their 70s, 30.1% in their 60s, and 22.8% in their 80s or older that’s all. This means that 9 out of 10 patients with macular degeneration are in their 60s or older.

When macular degeneration develops, symptoms such as reduced vision, deformity, and a central scotoma where only the arms and legs are visible and the face cannot be seen when looking at a person. At first, letters or straight lines appear crooked or curved, and symptoms such as not being able to see certain parts when reading appear, and eventually vision declines. However, since symptoms rarely appear in the early stages, it is often undiagnosed. Also, if macular degeneration occurs in only one eye, the patient can rely on the other eye, which is still normal, without producing the symptoms, and not visiting the hospital only after the vision has been damaged in the other eye as well.

Yoon Jun-myeong, a professor of ophthalmology at Incheon St. Mary at the Catholic University of Korea, “Cataracts, which cause the lens to become cloudy, can be recovered with treatment, but macular degeneration is difficult to restore the previous vision once. This is because the macula is made up of optic nerve cells.

However, not all macular degeneration patients lose their vision. If detected early and treated before structural damage occurs to the macular area, most people can maintain vision that does not interfere with daily life. Therefore, it is more important to detect and treat macular degeneration early, before irreversible vision damage occurs, through regular self-examination. Also, after receiving a diagnosis, you should not forget to receive regular treatment from a retina specialist. Also, reduce controllable factors such as obesity and smoking, which are known risk factors for macular degeneration.

◇ If the examination table looks curved, it is a sign of abnormality… Stop aging by quitting smoking and exercising

Macular degeneration is broadly divided into dry (non-exudative) and wet (exudative) types. There are dangerous things in their habits. Wet macular degeneration has a poor prognosis and there is a risk of vision loss. Treatment is definitely needed. Dry macular degeneration, which accounts for 80-90% of all macular degeneration, does not cause serious vision loss, but it can progress to wet macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration can be partially diagnosed by looking at a piece of paper with many horizontal and vertical lines like a checkerboard with one eye. If something looks bent, it’s a sign that something is wrong. It is also a good idea to look at the numbers on the calendar from a certain distance once a week. If abnormal symptoms appear, go to the hospital and check for disease through angiography and optical coherence tomography.

To prevent macular degeneration, it is important to slow down the oxidation process that occurs with age. It is helpful to stop smoking and exercise regularly, and it is best to avoid fast foods or foods that contain a lot of fat. It is also recommended to eat a Mediterranean diet, including green and yellow vegetables full of antioxidant vitamins, green fish, and nuts. There is also research that shows that the intake of antioxidants, zinc, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are helpful for eye health, reduces the risk of developing macular degeneration and reduces the risk of wet macular degeneration.

Junmyeong Yoon, a professor of ophthalmology at Incheon St. you should visit an ophthalmologist immediately for examination.” He said, “Especially those who are older than 60 years, obesity, smoking, family history of macular degeneration, etc. advise.