Macular degeneration Flashcards
What is the most common cause of blindness in the UK?
Macular degeneration
What are 2 functions of the macular?
- Providing central vision
- Providing most of our colour vision
What is the diameter of the macular?
5mm
What are the 4 layers of the macular from top to bottom?
- Photoreceptors
- retinal pigment epithelium
- Bruch’s membrane
- Choroid membrane
What does the choroid layer of the retina contain?
blood vessels that supply the retina and macular
Describe the general pathophysiology of macular degeneration: (2)
- with age, there is degeneration of photoreceptors and atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelial layer
- Drusen deposits form, affecting vision
What are drusen deposits?
yellow deposits of protein and lipids found between the retinal pigment membrane and Bruch’s membrane
What are the two types of macular degeneration?
- Wet (neovascular)
- dry (non-neovascular)
What is wet macular degeneration?
where new vessels develop from the choroid layer and grow into the retina and can leak fluid or blood, causing oedema and faster vision loss
What growth factor is largely responsible for the neovascularisation seen in wet macular degeneration?
VEGF
What % of macular degeneration cases are wet?
10%
What is dry macular degeneration?
where no new vessels form, only degeneration of photoreceptors and atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium layer
Give 6 risk factors for macular degeneration:
- Increasing age
- Obesity
- Smoking
- CVS such as hypertension
- poor diet (low vitamins and high fat)
- Family history
True or false: macular degeneration typically has a unilateral presentation
True
What are 4 presentations associated with macular degeneration?
- gradual loss of central vision
- reduced visual acuity
- Metamorphosia
- gradually worsening ability to read small text