Causes of Age-related macular degeneration
List of causes of Age-related macular degeneration
Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions
(see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Age-related macular degeneration)
that could possibly cause Age-related macular degeneration includes:
Age-related macular degeneration Causes: Book Excerpts
Age-related macular degeneration as a symptom:
Conditions listing Age-related macular degeneration
as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Age-related macular degeneration.
Our database lists the following as having
Age-related macular degeneration as a symptom of that condition:
- Alopecia - macular degeneration - growth retardation
- Bessman-Baldwin syndrome
- Body skin hyperlaxity due to vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor deficiency
- Bothnia retina dystrophy
- Juvenile macular degeneration and hypotrichosis
- Juvenile macular degeneration, hypotrichosis
- Kuster-Majewski-Hammerstein syndrome
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 1
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 10
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 11
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 2
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 3
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 4
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 5
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 6
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 7
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 8
- Macular degeneration, age-related, 9
- Neurodegenerative syndrome, X-linked, Bertini type
- Pseudoxanthoma elasticum, forme fruste
- Spastic paraplegia 15, autosomal recessive
- Stargardt disease 3
- Stargardt disease 4
- Vasterbotten dystrophy
Medical news summaries relating to Age-related macular degeneration:
The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Age-related macular degeneration:
Related information on causes of Age-related macular degeneration:
As with all medical conditions,
there may be many causal factors.
Further relevant information on causes of Age-related macular degeneration may be found in:
Causes of Age-related macular degeneration: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the causes of Age-related macular degeneration.
Scotoma:
Medical causes
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
Chorioretinitis
Inflammation of the choroid and retina produces a paracentral scotoma. Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals clouding and cells in the vitreous, subretinal hemorrhage, and neovascularization. The patient may have photophobia along with blurred vision.
Macular degeneration
Any degenerative process or disorder affecting the fovea centralis results in a central scotoma. Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals changes in the macular area. The patient may notice subtle changes in visual acuity, in color perception, and in the size and shape of objects.
Optic neuritis
Inflammation, degeneration, or demyelination of the optic nerve produces a central, circular, or centrocecal scotoma. The scotoma may be unilateral with involvement of one nerve, or bilateral with involvement of both nerves. It can vary in size, density, and symmetry. The patient may report severe vision loss or blurring, lasting up to 3 weeks, and pain — especially with eye movement. Common ophthalmoscopic findings include hyperemia of the optic disk, retinal vein distention, blurred disk margins, and filling of the physiologic cup.
Retinal pigmentary degeneration
Retinal pigmentary degeneration causes premature retinal cell changes leading to cell death. One disorder, retinitis pigmentosa, initially involves loss of peripheral rods; the resulting annular scotoma progresses concentrically until only a central field of vision (tunnel vision) remains. The earliest symptom — impaired night vision — appears during adolescence. Associated signs include narrowing of the retinal blood vessels and pallor of the optic disk. Eventually, with invasion of the macula, blindness may occur.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Age-related macular degeneration:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Age-related macular degeneration results from underlying pathologic changes that occur primarily at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch’s membrane, and the choriocapillaris in the macular region. Drusen (bumps), which are common in elderly people, appear as yellow deposits beneath the pigment epithelium and may be prominent in the macula. No predisposing conditions have been identified; however, some forms of the disorder are hereditary.
Macular degeneration is the most common cause of legal blindness in adults, accounting for about 12% of blindness cases in the United States and for about 17% of new blindness cases. It’s also one of the causes of severe irreversible loss of central vision in elderly people — by age 75, almost 15% of people have this condition. Whites have the highest incidence. Other risk factors are family history and cigarette smoking.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Scotoma:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Chorioretinitis
Inflammation of the choroid and retina produces a paracentral scotoma. Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals clouding and cells in the vitreous, subretinal hemorrhage, and neovascularization. The patient may have photophobia along with blurred vision.
Glaucoma
Prolonged elevation of IOP can cause an arcuate scotoma. Poorly controlled glaucoma can also cause cupping of the optic disk, loss of peripheral vision, and reduced visual acuity. The patient may also see rainbow-colored halos around lights.
Macular degeneration
Any degenerative process or disorder affecting the fovea centralis results in a central scotoma. Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals changes in the macular area. The patient may notice subtle changes in visual acuity, in color perception, and in the size and shape of objects.
Migraine headache
Transient scintillating scotomas, usually bilateral and often homonymous, can occur during a classic migraine aura. Besides pain, characteristic associated symptoms include paresthesia of the lips, face, or hands; slight confusion; dizziness; and photophobia.
Optic neuritis
Inflammation, degeneration, or demyelination of the optic nerve produces a central, circular, or centrocecal scotoma. The scotoma may be unilateral with involvement of one nerve, or bilateral with involvement of both nerves. It can vary in size, density, and symmetry. The patient may report severe visual loss or blurring, lasting up to 3 weeks, and pain—especially with eye movement. Common ophthalmoscopic findings include hyperemia of the optic disk, retinal vein distention, blurred disk margins, and filling of the physiologic cup.
Retinal pigmentary degenerations
These disorders cause premature retinal cell changes leading to cell death. One disorder, retinitis pigmentosa, initially involves loss of peripheral rods; the resulting annular scotoma progresses concentrically until only a central field of vision (tunnel vision) remains. The earliest symptom—impaired night vision—appears during adolescence. Associated signs include narrowing of the retinal blood vessels and pallor of the optic disk. Eventually, with invasion of the macula, blindness may occur.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Retinal Phenomena:
Differential Overview
(Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)
❑ Hypertension
❑ Diabetic retinopathy
❑ Glaucoma
❑ Cholesterol emboli
❑ Papilledema
❑ Pigmented crescent
❑ Macular degeneration
❑ Retinal detachment
❑ Acute optic neuritis
❑ Optic atrophy
❑ Retinal hemorrhage
❑ Chorioretinal exudates
❑ Lipemia retinalis
❑ Central retinal artery occlusion
❑ Central retinal vein occlusion
❑ Angioid streaks
❑ Hyperviscosity
Clinical Findings
Hypertension A significant AV crossing change is one that is two disc diameters out and that obliterates the venous column of blood. This is because of longstanding arterial muscular hypertrophy, and it will remain even after the hypertension is treated. Accelerated hypertension is most readily recognized by retinal hemorrhage, which is a marker for a similar pathophysiology in the brain.
Diabetic retinopathy Diabetic retinopathy most often involves microaneurysms, dot hemorrhages, and exudates. Neovascularization around the optic disc heralds retinal and vitreous hemorrhage, which leads to blindness.
Glaucoma The optic cup-to-disc ratio is increased, and striations can be seen on the surface of the cup. The cup is several diopters deep, with vessels visibly rising over the lip of the disc.
Cholesterol emboli A brightly refractile yellow embolus impacts at an arteriolar branch point. This is important to recognize as a marker of an ulcerated carotid plaque.
Papilledema The optic disc becomes edematous, which is manifest as an indistinct disc margin, hyperemia, and absence of venous pulsations. The usual implication is raised intracranial pressure.
Pigmented crescent This is a normal finding adjacent to the disc, and its appearance corresponds to the degree of skin pigmentation.
Macular degeneration Macular drusen, atrophy of the retinal pigment with prominent choroidal vessels, subretinal edema or hemorrhage, and a central fibrous scar are typical findings.
Retinal detachment The retina appears to billow in undulating folds. It is difficult to keep vessels in focus because they cross focal planes.
Acute optic neuritis On examination it appears very similar to papilledema, but there is decreased visual acuity as opposed to an enlarged physiologic blind spot.
Optic atrophy It appears as a porcelain-white disc with sharply demarcated edges.
Retinal hemorrhage Retinal hemorrhage is found in accelerated hypertension, diabetes, pernicious anemia, DIC, leukemia, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. In endocarditis, a Roth spot (focal hemorrhage with a clear center) may be found.
Chorioretinal exudates Cytomegalovirus retinitis in a patient with AIDS has an appearance of a yellow granular exudate with hemorrhage at the advancing border. These should be distinguished from the cotton-wool spots caused by HIV infection alone. White cotton-like lesions in a febrile immunocompromised patient suggest systemic candidiasis.
Lipemia retinalis The retina and retinal vessels have a pale yellow appearance in hypertriglyceridemia.
Central retinal artery occlusion The optic disc is pale, the retina is edematous, the macula appears cherry-red, and there are “boxcar veins.”
Central retinal vein occlusion Veins are tortuous and dilated, the retina is edematous and has flame hemorrhages, and the optic disc margin is blurred.
Angioid streaks Dark linear streaking of the retina in pseudoxanthoma elasticum appears like ghosts of traversing vessels. This condition is associated with accelerated peripheral vascular and coronary artery disease.
Hyperviscosity Tortuous sausage-link retinal veins are found in
macroglobulinemia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis, 2007
Macular degeneration:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
Age-related macular degeneration results from the formation of drusen (clumps of epithelium) or subretinal neovascular membrane in the macular region. It may be hereditary. Cigarette smoking and lack of antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, may also enhance occurrence.
Underlying pathologic changes occur primarily at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch’s membrane, and choriocapillaris in the macular region. Drusen (bumps), which are common in elderly people, appear as yellow deposits beneath the pigment epithelium and may be prominent in the macula.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Scotoma:
Medical causes
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Chorioretinitis
Chorioretinitis, inflammation of the choroid and retina, produces a paracentral scotoma. Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals clouding and cells in the vitreous, subretinal hemorrhage, and neovascularization. The patient may have photophobia along with blurred vision.
Glaucoma
With glaucoma, prolonged elevation of IOP can cause an arcuate scotoma. Poorly controlled glaucoma can also cause cupping of the optic disk, loss of peripheral vision, and reduced visual acuity. The patient may also see rainbow-colored halos around lights.
Macular degeneration
Macular degeneration results in a central scotoma. Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals changes in the macular area. The patient may notice subtle changes in visual acuity, in color perception, and in the size and shape of objects.
Migraine headache
Transient scintillating scotomas, usually bilateral and typically homonymous, can occur during a classic migraine aura. Besides pain, characteristic associated symptoms include paresthesia of the lips, face, or hands; slight confusion; dizziness; and photophobia.
Optic neuritis
Inflammation, degeneration, or demyelination of the optic nerve produces a central, circular, or centrocecal scotoma. The scotoma may be unilateral with involvement of one nerve, or bilateral with involvement of both nerves. It can vary in size, density, and symmetry. The patient may report severe vision loss or blurring, lasting up to 3 weeks, and pain — especially with eye movement. Common ophthalmoscopic findings include hyperemia of the optic disk, retinal vein distention, blurred disk margins, and filling of the physiologic cup.
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa initially involves loss of peripheral rods; the resulting annular scotoma progresses concentrically until only a central field of vision (tunnel vision) remains. The earliest symptom — impaired night vision — appears during adolescence. Associated signs include narrowing of the retinal blood vessels and pallor of the optic disk. Eventually, with invasion of the macula, blindness may occur.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Scotoma:
Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
Chorioretinitis.Inflammation of the choroid and retina produces a paracentral scotoma. Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals clouding and cells in the vitreous, subretinal hemorrhage, and neovascularization. The patient may have photophobia along with blurred vision.
Macular degeneration.Any degenerative process or disorder affecting the fovea centralis results in a central scotoma. Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals changes in the macular area. The patient may notice subtle changes in visual acuity, in color perception, and in the size and shape of objects.
Optic neuritis.Inflammation, degeneration, or demyelination of the optic nerve produces a central, circular, or centrocecal scotoma. The scotoma may be unilateral with involvement of one nerve, or bilateral with involvement of both nerves. It can vary in size, density, and symmetry. The patient may report severe vision loss or blurring, lasting up to 3 weeks, and pain—especially with eye movement. Common ophthalmoscopic findings include hyperemia of the optic disk, retinal vein distention, blurred disk margins, and filling of the physiologic cup.
Retinal pigmentary degeneration.Retinal pigmentary degeneration causes premature retinal cell changes leading to cell death. One disorder, retinitis pigmentosa, initially involves loss of peripheral rods; the resulting annular scotoma progresses concentrically until only a central field of vision (tunnel vision) remains. The earliest symptom—impaired night vision—appears during adolescence. Associated signs include narrowing of the retinal blood vessels and pallor of the optic disk. Eventually, with invasion of the macula, blindness may occur.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
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