Illustrated below is a video interview with a visually impaired friend, diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. Macular Degeneration (MD) or macular decease are collective terms for conditions which lead to loss of central vision due to damage to the macula, a small part of the retina which lines the back of the eye. This particular disease is the most common cause of visual impairment. In the UK approximately 250,000 people are registered as visually impaired due to the noted condition.
MD includes juvenile macular dystrophies which are usually genetic and first become apparent from childhood - middle age. If this occurs later in life MD is often referred to as being age related. MD occurs when the layer of the retina responsible for nourishing the macular light sensitive rod and cone cells, and carrying away waste products starts to functions less effectively, and in some cases deteriorate. Cells in the macula break down, causing loss of sight in the central part of the field vision but leaving the side vision, known as peripheral vision, unaffected. Although the breakdown of the macular cells may not begin to reside until later in life, long term awareness and preventive measures should begin much earlier.
There are two types of MD - ‘Wet’ and ‘Dry’
‘Wet’ MD which is Elaines diagnosis, occurs when minuscule, abnormal blood vessels begin to grow behind the retina toward the macula. These vessels usually leak blood or fluid, which then damages the macula causing a rapid loss of central vision.
‘Dry’ MD causes a gradual deterioration of the macula, habitually over an extensive number of years. The name ‘Dry’ does not connote nor mean the person has dry eyes; the term is used to indicate that the deterioration has not been caused by leaking blood vessels as with ‘wet’ MD.
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