The number of macular degeneration shots related to age should exceed 21 million by 2050, according to a study
With the aging of the population, cases of loss of vision caused by Macular degeneration related to age (DMRI) They can triple in the next decades, project a new study published in the scientific journal The Lancet Global Health. The researchers estimate that the number of people affected by the disease in the world will jump from 8 million to 21.3 million by 2050.
DMRI is a progressive condition that damages the macula, a retinal area responsible for the central vision (what we see in front of us, unlike peripheral vision). This commitment occurs mainly in elderly people and, in serious cases, can lead to a total loss of vision.
Analyzing the problem, the researchers discovered that the number of people with the more than doubled picture between 1990 and 2021.
According to scientists, the increase is probably due to aging and growth of the population. For this reason, even with the absolute quantity of increasing cases, the proportional rate of the disease in the population had a small reduction: 5.5% decreased in the same period.
The improvement of statistics, the authors affirm, is mainly related to the reduction of the smoothnessone of the main preventable causes of the disease. In fact, if the smoke was eliminated, the numbers scheduled for 2050 could drop from 21.3 million people affected to around 19.3 million, according to study simulations.
What is DMRI?
Although the causes for the reduction of vision over the years are different, the research shows that DMRI deserves attention. He is mainly responsible for irreversible blindness after his 50 years in developed countries.
In addition, the data presented by Ministry of HealthBased on a destination -analysis with international numbers, they suggest that there is a prevalence of DMRI in Brazil by 2.2% in the age group between 70 and 79 years and up to 10.3% in individuals aged 80 or over 80 years.
“DMRI is a degenerative process that gradually affects the macula of both eyes, usually from the age of 50”, explains the ophthalmologist Mauro Goldbaum, director of the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology (CBO) and the Brazilian retina and the Vitrea company (SBRV).
The macula is a small area located in the center of the retina in the lower part of the eye. This region hosts light sensitive cells that capture environmental information and send signs to the brain. He is responsible for the vision of details and the perception of color.
With the progressive degeneration of this structure, it is more difficult to carry out tasks such as reading a book, the recognition of faces or other activities that require a more detailed vision.
What types of macular degeneration?
“The disease can have two forms: drought (or not exuding) and the wet (or ExsudativA) and the evaluation of these two forms usually involves specific retinal exams, “says Goldbaum.
The “dry” degeneration thus called with the emergence of Drus, small protein and fat deposits that accumulate under the retina. They indicate that the “cleaning system” of the retina, which should remove them, does not work correctly.
Over time, this accumulation can lead to the degeneration of the photoreceptors, the cells that capture the light, which cause progressive macula atrophy. In most cases, this form evolves slowly and, while causing visual losses, does not lead to blindness.
In some patients, however, DMRI dry can evolve in the wet, which is more serious. In it, abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula. They are fragile and can lose blood or liquid – from which the “humid” name – quickly damage the photocercers and causing a sudden and marked fall of the vision.
What are the symptoms?
The initial phases of degeneration are asymptomatic. So, as Michel Farah, H.olhos’s ophthalmologist, the central ophthalmological unit of St. Paul, explains, the most common symptoms are the loss of sharpness, with a low vision of details and the distortion of the image (metamorphopsia).
“The person looks like a straight line and sees Wavy, even if he knows he is straight (vertical or horizontal). So it is a distortion of the real image “, exemplifies.
The doctor also cites symptoms such as the blurred vision and the difficulty of differentiating colors, which is considered a subsequent effect.
In general, Farah recommends attention to the differences between the vision of each eye. “Usually, the vision of the two eyes should be similar. When there is a more significant difference between the two, you should understand why this is happening,” he says. To make this comparison, just cover an eye with the palm and then the other.
Why does it happen?
The mechanisms that lead to the development of DMRI are not yet completely understood. However, some factors can help to explain the disease, such as the increase in the production of Free radicals – molecules that damage the cells and whose accumulation is common with aging – and alterations in the choroid circulation, the ocular layer responsible for bringing oxygen and nutrients to the retina.
It is also known that the disease appears from a combination of several risk factors. The main ones are age, with occurrences usually from the age of 50, but especially after 70 and genetic predisposition.
The lifestyle can also induce the picture, which is called “modifiable risk factors”. The main is smoking. “Cigarette smoke is full of oxidizing agents, so smoking can worsen the risk,” says Farah. Other aspects are hypertension, obesity and fat -rich diet.
“In addition, there are ethnic factors: it is much more common in Caucasians than in blacks or oriental,” he says.
Is it possible to avoid?
“It is possible to reduce the possibility of developing DMRI that controls the risk factors that we call modifiable and that are related to the lifestyle,” explains Goldbaum.
In fact, even in patients who have already developed the disease, control of these aspects is important as it can reduce the severity of the condition.
Farah also underlines that the use of antioxidant drugs and vitamins helps prevent the condition. They are substances such as lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc and vitamin C, but they should be administered to specific dosages under medical advice.
“In the correct dose, in patients with Drus, who are those cell remains of the metabolism, it is possible to use these vitamins and antioxidants to prevent, reducing the risk of serious visual losses over time,” he says.
Experts also highlight the importance of periodic control with the ophthalmologist, since the early diagnosis of the disease allows a better treatment and greater possibilities to maintain a good vision.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis is carried out by examining the bottom of the eye, biomicroscopy of the bottom of the eye and, if necessary, optical consistency and other complementary exams.
What is DMRI’s treatment?
The treatment of macular degeneration related to age varies according to the type of disease. In dry form, control usually includes a specific combination of vitamins and minerals, as well as the use of a chess screen (called Grid Amsler) for domestic self -assessment.
“Unfortunately, these treatments do not greatly reduce the progression of the dry form, but are important to prevent or diagnose the early humid form, which is the most serious,” says Goldbaum.
In the form of humidity, the main treatment is intraocular injections of antiangigenic drugs. They act by blocking the growth of abnormal blood vessels and the accumulation of liquid in the macula. With this, it is possible to preserve the vision in most cases.
Finally, the director of the CBO warns: patients with the disease who have sudden distortion or the blur of vision should immediately look for an ophthalmologist.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
