Keep an eye on the AMD

    

    

Doctors newspaper online, 06.08.2019

    

        
        
        

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Ophthalmologists Call

The age-related macular degeneration (AMD) hardly tells many things. Ophthalmologists now demand to have the eye disease in view and to raise awareness.

By Thomas Hommel

Targeted early detection is important to AMD.

© luckybusiness / stock.adobe.com

BERLIN. A healthy lifestyle can positively influence the course of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

"Anyone who refrains from smoking, meditating on a Mediterranean diet and moving daily can significantly improve their chances of maintaining their vision despite their high genetic risk profile into old age," said Professor Marius Ueffing, Director of the Ophthalmology Research Institute at the University Hospital Tuebingen, on Tuesday.

Evidence for this is provided by the European research project "EYE-RISK". The project evaluated data from 60,000 patients. Ueffing spoke of the database as "the world's largest knowledge resource for AMD". The EU had funded the project with six million euros over a four-year period.

Create more awareness

Ueffing also called for greater social awareness of AMD. In Germany, it is estimated that five to six million people have contracted it.

In addition to age, a genetic disposition plays a role in the development of the disease, according to Ueffing. Anyone with relatives who already have AMD is at an increased risk of contracting.

"In this case, you should go to the ophthalmologist once a year from the age of 50 and be examined for deposits in the fundus," said Ueffing. For the most part, AMD occurs in people older than 60 years.

Early detection important

For treatment and treatment of AMD, early diagnosis is crucial, said Professor Sabine Aisenbrey, chief physician at the Department of Ophthalmology at Vivantes Hospital Berlin-Neukölln.

"It is very important for early detection to notice the first symptoms, to know that you have to see the ophthalmologist," says the ophthalmologist.

Typical signs of AMD are distorted appearing lines on tiles, bars, checkered paper or crossword puzzles. "Often sufferers are also the first to perceive a gray patch of varying severity that always appears where they are looking," says Aisenbrey.

While moist AMD is to be treated "within limits", there is no approved effective therapy for the dry form. "But we can assess the risks and the course of the disease quite well by means of a multi-stage diagnosis."

Aids make everyday life easier

Franz Badura, chairman of the self-help association PRO RETINA, said that victims could now resort to a variety of tools to further their everyday lives.

The range here ranges from silicone sticking points to stoves or washing machines to new read-aloud apps, talking pens and navigation apps for blind people. Digitization has also triggered a "quantum leap" here, says Badura.

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