Age-related macular degeneration & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is age-related macular degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration, aka age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), is known to be the leading cause of blindness in the United States. The disease is characterized by common symptoms, such as blurred vision, distorted images, and difficulty adapting to low light conditions.

ARMD (macular degeneration) dry and wet types are caused by various factors such as environmental factors (smoking), heredity (gender, race) and protective factors (antioxidants). Research has found that at least two forms of the disease gene (Y402H and A69S) are associated with an increased risk of macular degeneration. If a person has both mutant genes containing Y402H and A69S, they will tend to have macular degeneration almost more than 60 times. This amount is certainly not a small amount. This makes ARMD familiar in the midst of society.

Information regarding ARMD may be of use to patients undergoing a physical examination before making a treatment decision. This information also emphasizes the positive effects of avoiding smoking and living a healthy lifestyle. In some cases, the information from the genes can support a physical examination.

When should I undergo age-related macular degeneration?

This test is done to:

• estimate the risk of developing disease
• diagnosing symptoms of macular degeneration

Symptoms of macular degeneration include:

• can't read a book with low light intensity
• cannot see clearly when the light is low, for example a restaurant with dim lights
• when reading a book, the words in the book look blurry
• difficulty in seeing and recognizing a person's face

Precautions & warnings

What should I know before undergoing age-related macular degeneration?

In addition to these tests, your doctor may order other tests to find risk factors for disease, for example:

• eye test: the doctor will give a few drops of homatropine hydrobomide into the patient's eye. Then using special glasses, the doctor will look at the back of the eye and check for yellow spots under the retina as a sign of retinal degeneration.
• check the patient's eye view

• using the aid of optical coherence tomography. This test helps doctors detect blood vessel disorders that are usually associated with wet-type macular degeneration

Observe warnings and precautions before undergoing this treatment. If you have any questions, please consult a doctor for further information and instructions.

Process

What should I do before undergoing age-related macular degeneration?

There is no special preparation before undergoing this test. However, the doctor may check your health condition first. Consult your doctor about certain preparations before undergoing the test.

It is recommended that you wear short-sleeved clothing to make the process of taking a blood sample from your hand easier.

How does age-related macular degeneration process?

The medical personnel in charge of drawing your blood will take the following steps:

• wrap an elastic belt around your upper arm to stop blood flow. This makes the blood vessel under the bundle enlarge making it easier to insert the needle into the vessel
• clean the area to be injected with alcohol
• inject a needle into a vein. More than one needle may be required.
• Insert the tube into the syringe to fill it with blood
• untie the knot from your arm when enough blood is drawn
• sticking gauze or cotton on the injection site, after the injection is complete
• apply pressure to the area and then put a bandage on

What should I do after undergoing age-related macular degeneration?

Some people may feel pain when the needle is inserted into the skin. But for most people, the pain will fade away when the needle is right in the vein. Generally, the level of pain experienced depends on the nurse's expertise, the condition of the blood vessels, and the person's sensitivity to pain.

After going through the blood draw process, wrap your hands with a bandage. Press the vein lightly to stop the bleeding. After doing the test, you can carry out your activities as usual.
If you have any questions regarding the test process, please consult your doctor for further instructions

Explanation of the Test Results

What do my test results mean?

The normal range for each test may vary depending on the laboratory you choose. Usually, the normal range will be written on the test result paper. Discuss with our doctor or healthcare professional before the test and after receiving the test results for an accurate result.

Normal

No mutations were found

Abnormal

There is an increased risk of ARMD

The results of this test will be combined with other test results including a physical exam. You can discuss directly with your doctor before and after getting the test results for a more accurate diagnosis.