Bent Lines May Signal Age-related Blindness

People who see the world differently with their eyes aren’t necessarily being romantic or cynical. They may be suffering from a serious disease called age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in people over 50.

Indeed, for 30 million people worldwide who have ...People who see the world differently with their eyes aren’t necessarily being romantic or cynical. They may be suffering from a serious disease called age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in people over 50.

Indeed, for 30 million people worldwide who have AMD, the world is a different place. Straight lines such as doorframes or posts appear bent while the size and color of objects may appear differently with each eye.

All this is caused by damage to the macula – the light-sensitive part of the eye that gives people their central vision. No one knows why this happens but risk factors for AMD include smoking, hypertension, coronary heart disease, race, sun exposure, and a diet low in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

There are two types of AMD. The dry form affects 90 percent of people but vision deteriorates slowly or not at all. In the less common wet form that affects only 10 percent of people, there is severe vision loss in two to three years. This is caused by abnormal blood vessels that form in the back of the eye and block vision.

“As the disease progresses, patients may begin to experience difficulties in performing normal daily tasks such as reading, telling time, or distinguishing colors and facial expressions. Furthermore, impaired vision may decrease mobility and increase the risk of injury due to falls – patients with AMD have a 70 percent increased risk of falling at least twice in 12 months,” according to Dr. Michael Sickenberg of Hospital Ophtalmique Universitaire Jules Gonin in Switzerland.

“Vision impairment as a result of AMD can also significantly reduce the patient’s ability to cope with basic aspects of everyday life and can lead to anxiety, depression, anger, reduced drive, tiredness, and confusion,” he added.

Consult an ophthalmologist or eye specialist if you suspect you have AMD. The wet form can be treated by drugs that stop further vision loss.

If you look tired, haggard, and old, chances are you have dark circles or eye bags under or around your eyes that can greatly affect your appearance. In most cases, these conditions are caused by the aging process. To revitalize your eyes, use Eyevive, a product that safely reverses the effects of aging around the eyes. For details, check out http://tinyurl.com/8jkw6ma