What Could be Causing Macular Degeneration?

What Causes Macular Degeneration?

In order to deal properly with macular degeneration we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow macular degeneration to develop?"

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Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind macular degeneration consists of three steps:

Step 1: List the Possible Causative Factors

Identify all disease conditions, lifestyle choices and environmental risk factors that can lead to macular degeneration. For example, cigarette smoke damage.

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

Identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

secondhand smoke exposure

much reduced sense of smell

recent heavy tobacco smoking

smoking 2-5 cigarettes per day

recently quitting smoking

... and so on

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of macular degeneration.

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate eye problems, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

If you have been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, what type is it? The most common form is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Possible responses:

→ I don't have it / don't know
→ Non-age-related Macular Degeneration
→ 'Dry' AMD
→ 'Wet' AMD
→ 'Dry' AMD in one eye and 'Wet' AMD in the other

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate non-age-related macular degeneration, dry age-related macular degeneration, wet age-related macular degeneration or wet and dry macular degeneration, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as Cigarette Smoke Damage. Any type of smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke can accelerate the development of the 'wet' type of macular degeneration. Smokers on average exhibit only half the density of yellow macular pigment (lutein and zeaxanthin) and develop macular degeneration 7 years sooner than non-smokers.

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™