Our guest speaker in April was Mr Nick Lee, Consultant Ophthalmologist at The Hillingdon Hospital.
His address on age-related macular degeneration was warmly appreciated by his audience.
The macula, an area a few millimetres in size at the back of the eye, is prone to age-related degeneration caused by the build up of waste products over time, which may cause bleeding and leaking. Three thousand people a week are diagnosed with AMD, in one or both eyes, and there are a total of over three million AMD patients in UK.
Risk of AMD is greater for people aged 50 or more, particularly those aged 70-80 years, women, smokers, blue-eyed people, and those with hypertension or raised cholesterol levels; there are also some genetic risk factors.
Symptoms, in the centre of the visual field, include an empty or dark patch, or distortion of straight lines. Diagnosis is by examination with the pupils dilated – so do not drive to eye appointments!
There two forms of AMD, dry - for which there is little treatment, and subsequent wet - which is treatable. However, wet AMD progresses fast, possibly 25% deterioration in a month, so swift treatment is essential. The NHS offers a fast rack system to an AMD consultant within a week.
Treatments for wet AMD include Avastin and Lucentis, which is very expensive but approved by NICE, so it should be widely available. Other AMD treatments are not suitable for all patients and may be subject to postcode lottery e.g. Epimacular Brachytherapy (radiotherapy treatment), and Lipshitz Macular Implants, which act as a magnifying glass.
Reading in good light and using brown or yellow sunglasses (not blue) offers some protection from AMD. AMD patients can be helped with magnifiers, electronic aids, talking books and newspapers, vitamin supplements and fish oils.
All older people should have regular eye tests.
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