Eyeing the Risks: The Big Three Age-Related Eye Diseases You Need to Know

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 major geriatric eye diseases along with cataracts and glaucoma. It is a scary disease that begins without any symptoms but gradually causes vision loss and eventually leads to blindness.

The macula is the site of the greatest concentration of light-receiving cells, it is about 1.5 mm in diameter and is yellowish in color. It is responsible for 90% of vision and plays a role in distinguishing colors and making objects appear clearly.

The exact cause has not yet been revealed. However, risk factors include age, genetic predisposition, cardiovascular disease, smoking, high cholesterol, exposure to ultraviolet rays, and low concentrations of antioxidants in the blood. In particular, it is known to show a sharp increase after the age of 75.

Junmyeong Yoon (image) Professor of Ophthalmology at Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University, said, “Usually, changes in the macula occur as we age. If symptoms such as blurred vision, objects appear curved, or the center of the field appears black, macular degeneration. “Deterioration of vision due to age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration can increase the risk of dementia, falls, and depression, which can negatively impact the overall quality of life,” he warned. The last Saturday of September, this year September 28, is “World Retina Day.” Let’s learn about the prevention and management of “macular degeneration” with the help of Junmyeong Yoon, Professor of Ophthalmology at Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea.

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

The number of patients with macular degeneration in Korea is rapidly increasing. According to the Health Insurance Review and Evaluation Service, the number of people seeking treatment for macular degeneration in Korea increased by 148.1% or 290,000 in four years, from 200,471 in 2019 to 497,338 in 2023. By age group, those aged 60 years or older account for 89.3% of the total, including 36.4% of those aged 70 years, 30.1% of those aged 60 years, and 22.8% of those aged 80 years or older. This means that 9 out of 10 patients with macular degeneration are over 60 years old.

When macular degeneration occurs, symptoms such as decreased vision, deformity, and 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 flickering or curved, and symptoms such as the inability to see some parts when reading appear, and eventually the vision deteriorates. However, since the symptoms rarely appear in the early stages, they are often not known. In addition, if macular degeneration occurs in only one eye, the patient remains dependent on the other eye, which is still normal, without realizing the symptoms, and goes to the hospital only after the deterioration of vision has occurred in the other eye as well.

Yoon Jun-myeong, a professor of ophthalmology at St. Mary’s Hospital of the Catholic University of Korea Incheon, said: “Cataracts, which cause the lens to cloud, can be treated, but with macular degeneration, it is difficult to restore previous vision once vision deterioration begins. This is because the macula is made up of optic nerve cells. “This is because once it dies, it cannot be regenerated,” he explained.

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

◇If the board looks bent, it is a sign of an anomaly… Slow down aging by quitting smoking and exercising

Macular degeneration is largely divided into dry (non-exudative) and wet (exudative) types. The dangerous things are habits. Wet macular degeneration has a poor prognosis and carries the risk of vision loss. Treatment is definitely necessary. Dry macular degeneration, which accounts for 80-90% of all macular degeneration, does not cause severe vision loss, but can progress to wet macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration can be confirmed to some extent by looking at a piece of paper with many horizontal and vertical lines like a checkerboard with one eye. If something looks bent, it is a sign that something is wrong. It is also a good idea to look at the numbers on the calendar from a distance once a week. If any abnormal signs appear, go to the hospital and have the disease checked by angiography and ocular optical coherence tomography.

To prevent macular degeneration, it is important to slow down the oxidation process that occurs with age. Quitting smoking and exercising regularly are helpful, and it is best to avoid instant foods or foods containing a lot of fat. It is also recommended to follow a Mediterranean diet, which includes green and yellow vegetables rich in antioxidant vitamins, green fish, and nuts. There is also research showing that taking antioxidants, zinc, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are good for eye health, reduces the risk of developing macular degeneration and reduces the risk of wet macular degeneration.

Junmyeong Yoon, professor of ophthalmology at St. Mary’s Hospital of the Catholic University of Korea Incheon, said, “In the case of the elderly, if your vision suddenly worsens, objects appear distorted, or the center of your field of vision appears black, you should visit an eye doctor immediately for a checkup.” He added, “Especially if you are over 60 years old, obese, smoker, have a family history of macular degeneration, etc. “If you have risk factors, regular eye exams are essential,” he advised.