No, but treatment can slow or even stop the progression of the wet form, so the earlier you're diagnosed, the better.

Macular degeneration is the physical disturbance of the center of the retina called the macula. The macula, which is about the size of the capital letter " O" in this sentence, is the part of the retina, which is capable of our most acute and detailed vision. It is also the location of most of our color receptors. We use the macula for reading, driving, recognizing faces, watching television, and fine work.

Wet AMD is common in individuals over sixty years old, but can also occur in people as young as forty-years old. Macular degeneration is also the most common cause of vision loss in people over 65. Scientists believe that hereditary may also contribute to wet macular degeneration.

The root causes of macular degeneration are still unknown. There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration, "wet" and "dry." Ninety percent of patients have the "dry" form, which involves thinning of the macular tissues and disturbances in its pigmentation. Ten percent have the "wet" form, which can involve bleeding within and beneath the retina, opaque deposits, and eventually scar tissue.

Declining vision noticed by the patient or by a doctor during a routine eye exam may be the first indicator of macular degeneration. The formation of new blood vessels and exudates, or "drusen," from blood vessels in and under the macular is often the first physical sign that macular degeneration may develop. In addition, the following signs may be indicative of macular problems. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult an ophthalmologist immediately: a.

Macular degeneration appears to be hereditary in some families but not in others. Since macular degeneration affects most patients later in life, it is difficult to study successive generations in a family. Recent studies of twins indicate that both genetic and non-genetic factors play important roles in age-related macular degeneration. Yes. It has been demonstrated that the blue rays of the spectrum seem to accelerate macular degeneration more than other rays of the spectrum.

Yes. Until recently there has been no successful treatment for macular degeneration. For many years patients have had to rely on low vision aids, nutrition, and risky laser surgery to cope with this disease. There is now a new treatment using acupuncture points and a microcurrent stimulator that has shown the first effective results in treating the dry and wet form of macular degeneration, and also Juvenile Macular Degeneration, and Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Macular degeneration is a condition in which the eye's macula breaks down, causing a gradual or sudden loss of central vision.

If you're over age 65, a smoker, white or have a family member with macular degeneration, you have an increased risk for macular degeneration. You're also at risk if you take these drugs: Aralen (chloroquine) or phenothiazine derivatives [Thorazine (chlorpromazine), Mellaril (thioridazine), Prolixin (fluphenazine), Trilafon (perphenazine) and Stelazine (trifluoperazine)].

Doctors aren't sure how to prevent macular degeneration. Research suggests that ultraviolet light (and possibly blue light) factors into the problem, so sunglasses could be very beneficial. Read more about sunglasses. What you eat also affects your macula. Researchers think that antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E), zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and essential fatty acids all can aid in preventing macular degeneration. Read more about nutrition and eye health.

Early signs include: straight lines appearing wavy, fuzzy vision, and shadowy areas in your central vision. Your eye doctor may find indicators before you have any symptoms, so regular eye exams can mean an early diagnosis. One way to tell if you are having these vision problems is to view an Amsler grid, which is a chart of black lines arranged in a graph pattern. Click here to see how an Amsler grid works.

Macular degeneration is classified as either dry or wet. The dry form is more common than the wet (about 90% of patients). It may result from the aging and thinning of macular tissues, depositing of pigment in the macula or a combination of the two. In the wet form, new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid. This leakage causes retinal cells to die and creates blind spots in central vision.

Currently, there are no treatments that prevent Macular Degeneration or reverse the loss of vision caused by this disease. The most commonly applied clinical approach to Macular Degeneration is laser treatment which in some cases can slow the progression of the disease, but does not restore already lost vision. This disease usually develops painlessly over a long period, often going unnoticed in its early stages.

Scientists trained in cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology are pursuing research that will provide an understanding of the underlying causes of this blinding disease. While a number of theories have been proposed, little is known about the processes responsible for the devastating visual loss associated with Macular Degeneration.