Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration is an inherited eye disease that causes the loss in the center of the field of vision. There are over 200,000 cases in the U.S. today. Macular degeneration affects the macula, which is the central portion of the retina. This is known as a chronic disease, which means it can last for years or even life longing. People with Macular Degeneration can only see their peripheral (side) vision.

It is important to know that there are two types of macular degeneration. The first one is called Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This affects older adults over the age of 50. The second type is called Juvenile Macular Degeneration (JMD). This affects children, teenagers, and young adults.

According to the Family Connect organization, a “child or teenager will have difficulty reading (or recognizing pictures, numbers, and letters if not yet reading); identifying faces and facial expressions; driving; and gathering all of the visual information on a television screen, computer screen, phone, or tablet. The child may notice blurriness or distorted vision, and/ or a blind spot in his or her vision…” Many children also notice difficulty visually-adapting in dimly lit environments after walking indoors on a sunny day. The progression of Macular Degeneration is a slow process, therefore, it is common for these symptoms to go unnoticed for the first few years or to receive a preliminary misdiagnosis.

Definition

Instructional Strategies

Ways to accommodate children with Juvenile Macular Degeneration:

Learning to use peripheral vision for tasks, called “eccentric viewing" (which means the person looks slightly away from the subject in order to view it peripherally with another area of the visual field)
Have student in high contrast environments, a well-lit room, high intensity lamps
Additional time to interpret what is seen, and allowing the child or teen to sit in a preferred seat, like sitting toward the back of a room and off-centered to view the board better
Have/use low vision devices, like a monocular (pocket telescope) for distance viewing
Provide low vision devices, like magnifiers, for seeing objects close at hand for near viewing

Useful Websites

http://www.familyconnect.org/info/after-the-diagnosis/browse-by-condition/macular-degeneration-in-children/123 Website for parents of children with visual impairments
https://nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts Latests facts about the disability
https://medlineplus.gov/maculardegeneration.html Trusted health website
https://www.macular.org/what-macular-degeneration The American Macular Degeneration Foundation
http://www.blindness.org/blog/index.php/arvo-2016-emerging-drug-targets-toxic-build-up-in-stargardt-disease/ Foundation for fighting blindness

Research

There has been Stem Cell Therapy Clinical trial in 2015 that actually had improvements for the participant. According to the Fighting for Blindness Foundation, " Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) is conducting human studies of a retinal degenerative disease treatment derived from human stem cells. The Phase I/ II clinical trials are evaluating the treatment in people with JMD and AMD. Early results are encouraging thus far; vision improvements have been reported for some participants. The studies are taking place at multiple sites in the U.S." (“Macular Degeneration.” A Closer Look at Stem Cells, www.closerlookatstemcells.org/stem-cells-and-medicine/macular-degeneration).

Another study found on the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, goes into the genetics of MD: Researchers and professionals are "injecting a chemical into the eye every month to stop abnormal blood vessels in wet AMD from developing behind the macula." (“Research into the Genetics of Macular Degeneration - AMDF.” American Macular Degeneration Foundation, www.macular.org/feature/research-code-breaker).

On the Bright Focus Foundation website, they discuss Clinical Trials that involve vitamin A and electronic signals to the retina. Researchers put, "inhibitors of the vitamin A-dependent process in the retina by which light is converted to electrical signals, thereby limiting the formation of A2E. Unfortunately, some of these treatments can cause night blindness." (“Juvenile Macular Degeneration.” BrightFocus Foundation, 30 Nov. 2016, www.brightfocus.org/macular/article/juvenile-macular).

Other

Some Key Symptoms of Macular Degeneration:

-Blurred vision/Partial loss of vision

-Seeing straight lines wavy

-Not having the ability to see in dim light

-Not being able to see certain spots/patterns, as well as facial expressions

"Treatments"

-There are a lot of special combinations of vitamins and minerals that could potentially reduce the progression of the disease

-Research has discovered that some laser surgeries and other methods can also be an option is slowing the progression and improving the patients vision