A GREAT WAY TO TEST YOUR
MACULAR IS THE AMSLER GRID
amsler grid eye exam
Any changes to your vision should be assessed by an eye care professional as
soon as possible. Blurring, difficulty reading, distortion resulting in straight
lines appearing wavy, decreased night vision, colour sensitivity or dark
patches in your vision should all be investigated.
A comprehensive eye check will include and evaluate a number of
things such as:
• Visual acuity – this is the testing of your vision and current
requirements for glasses.
• An intraocular pressure measurement – a glaucoma screening test.
• A thorough examination of the retina – during this exam the
retina will be dilated using specific drops that will widen the pupil
temporarily. This results in light sensitivity and some blurring of
vision for a few hours after the test. For this reason, it is advised to
bring a driver with you to any appointments.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) – OCT is a non-invasive
imaging test which uses light waves to detect areas of macular
thickening or thinning, as well as the presence of abnormal blood
and fluid under the macula as seen in Wet ARMD. OCT is also
helpful in monitoring the treatment of Wet ARMD.
• Fluorescein Angiography – during this procedure a fluorescein dye
(vegetable based) is injected into a vein in the arm. The dye then
travels through the circulatory system to the blood vessels in the
eye. From here, a series of photographs are taken as the dye passes
through the blood vessels in the retina. Any signs of abnormal
vessels will appear as a white patch on the photographs taken.
Fluorescein Angiography is essential in both diagnosing and ruling
out cases of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration, and it can
also be used to detect changes in the macular pigment caused by
Dry ARMD.
Instructions for using the AMSLER Grid are:
1.
Test one eye at a time.
Keep your normal
2.
reading glasses or contact
lenses on (if required).
3. 4.
Hold the grid
at a normal reading
distance and focus on the
black spot in the centre
of the grid.
If any of the
lines appear wavy or
distorted, consult your eye
specialist or optometrist
and ask that your macula is
checked thoroughly.
If you have
5.
been diagnosed with
macular degeneration, keep
checking the grid regularly
to monitor any
changes.
There are a number of treatments available aimed at stopping the progression
of Wet ARMD, and in the majority of cases a patients vision can be
preserved. Unfortunately though, there is currently no cure.
The mainstay of treatment for Wet ARMD involves blocking a protein
called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Anti-VEGF treatments
suppress the growth of new leaking blood vessels and can dry up the retinal
fluid causing Wet Macular Degeneration. The anti-VEGF treatment is
administered via an injection into the eye after it has been numbed with a
local anaesthetic.
There is currently no treatment available for Dry Macular Degeneration,
however, its progression can be slowed by making healthy diet and lifestyle
changes, and with the use of supplements. Some positive nutritional
changes include; limiting the intake of fats and oils, eating dark green leafy
vegetables such as kale and spinach, eating fish two to three times per week
and eating a well-balanced diet. Supplements aimed at macular health have
been studied in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). Anyone
diagnosed with ARMD or with high risk of developing it should take a
supplement which adheres to the AREDS2 formula. Please check with your
pharmacist or eyecare professional for more advice.
While there is currently no cure for macular degeneration, there is
significant research being done worldwide. Recent use of stem cell therapy
has shown some promise in a London trial this year, however further study
is still required.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration is common and affects almost one in
seven Australians. If you or someone you know shows any signs of the
disease, you should see your local GP, optometrist or eye specialist as soon
as possible. The Macular Degeneration Foundation is also an excellence
source of information about the disease and well worth a look if you are
concerned about macular degeneration or have been diagnosed.
20 Pindara Magazine ISSUE 14 | 2018