Hyderabad: Fourteen per cent of blindness in those above 50 years of age is due to age related macular degeneration and ten per cent is due to diabetic retinopathy, according to 20 different studies in India.
Cataract and uncorrected refractive error contribute 55 per cent of blindness and 77 per cent of vision impairment in those above 50 years of age.
Age-related macular degeneration occurs when the eye is aging and its vision is obstructed either due to problems in the lens or due to a reduced blood supply to the eye. Dr G. Kulashekar Rao, a senior ophthalmologist, said, “What is the exact cause for the vision deterioration is not understood. The factors are identified but why it is happening is still researched. Is it due to food habits, environmental pollution, occupational hazards and genetic mutations due to ageing.”
Doctors stated that the vision lost before coming to the institution cannot be restored. Hence, whatever is left in terms of vision is preserved to halt the degeneration.
Dr V. Krishnayya, a senior ophthalmologist, said, “In urban areas, people come to institutions with 20 to 30 per cent damage. In rural and semi-rural areas, awareness is limited and eye check-up is not a priority due to which blindness occurs.”
The treatment for agerelated macular degeneration is laser treatment, injections in the eyes and surgeries. Of late, injections are preferred as clinical trials of surgeries have not shown encouraging results. The prices of these injections vary from Rs 10,000 per injection to Rs 45,000 per injection.
Dr G. Kulashekar Rao further said, “Only three to five injections can be given. If there is no change, then the treatment is stopped after two injections. These injections have to be given in a gap of one month.”
In Telangana, the treatment of injections is covered by the Aarogyasri department. Still, there are few takers.
