Geographical atrophy is a serious and often debilitating eye disease. It causes blurring in the centre of your field of vision, affecting your ability to complete everyday tasks.
Eight million people around the world have geographical atrophy, so it’s not uncommon. It’s one of several forms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which is a leading cause of vision loss amongst people over 65 years of age.
In Focus
- GA causes retinal cells to waste away and die, resulting in patchy vision or blind spots.
- Geographical Atrophy awareness tips include knowing the risk factors for developing the condition and learning what symptoms to look out for.
- New treatments are available to help stop the progression of GA.
If you believe you may be affected by geographical atrophy, you are likely to be worried. At our leading eye clinic in Dubai, we have diagnosed and treated Geographical Atrophy many times. Using our experience and knowledge of the condition, we can explain exactly what it is and how your eye doctor can help.
What Is Geographical Atrophy?
Geographical atrophy is an eye condition that affects the macula, a central part of the retina. The retina is a layer of tissue at the back of the eye that detects light and images. The retina is crucial because it sends signals through the optic nerve to the brain. The brain uses these signals to create your sense of vision. Without a properly functioning retina, you cannot see well or at all.
The macula is the central area of the retina. If a person develops geographical atrophy or any other form of dry age-related macula degeneration (AMD), parts of the macula waste away and die. This degeneration causes a fuzzy or dimmed spot in the person’s central vision.
Geographical atrophy can affect one or both eyes. If you have the condition in one eye, your chances of having it in the other are raised. You can also have other forms of macular degeneration alongside geographical atrophy.
How Is Geographical Atrophy Different from Other Forms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
The name geographical atrophy comes from the shape of affected parts of the macula; these areas often resemble a map.
Geographical atrophy is a form of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD). Wet AMD differs from dry AMD because wet AMD is caused by fragile abnormal blood vessels growing into the macula area. With all dry AMD, there is a slow deterioration of macula cells, whereas the onset of wet AMD is often quicker.
Who Is at Risk of Developing Geographical Atrophy?
There are two key risk factors. You are more likely to develop geographical atrophy if you are:
- Over 60 years old
- You have a family history of GA
Several other environmental and genetic factors may put you at slightly higher risk of developing geographical atrophy. They are:
- Being a smoker
- Having a poor diet
- Being caucasian
- Having light-colored eyes
If you are at higher risk of developing geographical atrophy, you should be mindful of the symptoms to look for.
What Are the Symptoms of Geographical Atrophy?
Difficulty seeing in the center of your vision is the key symptom of geographical atrophy. A dim or blind spot may appear. People often first notice this blind spot when:
- Reading. Letters may appear to be missing or dimmed.
- Looking at faces. Small parts of faces may appear to be missing or dimmed.
- Attempting craft or needlework
Other symptoms of geographical atrophy include:
- Struggling to see well in poor light
- Seeing colors as dull or washed out
- Feeling vision is not as clear or sharp as before
If you experience any of these symptoms, see your eye doctor for advice. They will perform an eye exam and the relevant tests to determine whether you have GA or any other eye condition.
How Is Geographical Atrophy Diagnosed?
Your eye doctor will perform some routine tests that can help identify the condition. They include:
- Visual Acuity. This test looks at how well your central vision is working.
- A dilated eye exam. By dilating your eyes using eye drops, your eye doctor can get a better look at the retina. They may detect changes in the appearance of the macula.
After these tests, your eye doctor may wish to carry out further tests. These can include taking photographs and scans of the back of your eye to detect changes to the thickness in the retina or pools of fluid in the area. Contrast sensitivity tests can also be used to assess the levels of dimness affecting your vision.
What Are the Treatments for Geographical Atrophy?
Until recently, there was little help available for people with geographical atrophy and dry AMD. However, recent breakthrough treatments are changing that. There are now two courses of treatment, both involving a monthly injection in the eye.
These two drugs are able to slow the deterioration in the macula. However, they cannot reverse damage or repair vision already lost. These treatments offer hope, but it is important to talk with your ophthalmologist about the associated treatment burden and risks. They can help you decide if the medications are the right pathway for you.
There is hope for further advancements in the field of geographical atrophy treatment and symptom relief. Researchers are currently working on:
- Complement-inhibiting drugs that trigger proteins to prevent cell loss
- Vitamin A treatments to slow the progression of dry AMD
- AI tools to recognise the early signs of geographical atrophy before symptoms begin
- Cell replacement therapies
- Retinal implants
When to See Your Eye Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with geographical atrophy, talk to your eye doctor about the new treatments available. If you are concerned about new symptoms, then you should also check in with your eye doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment for geographical atrophy is going to lead to better outcomes for you.
For those who are at high risk of geographical atrophy, awareness of symptoms is crucial. If you are over 60 and have any concerns about your central vision, then you should approach your ophthalmologist as soon as possible.
In Dubai, you can reach out to us at Gulf Family Clinic for friendly and professional advice from our specialist eye doctors.
