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The human eye has a very complex structure, the main place in which is occupied by the retina, which allows the eye to perceive light impulses. Its functions include ensuring the interaction of the optical system and the visual departments, the location of which is the brain. This is achieved through the receipt, processing and transmission of visual information. With the development of retinal dystrophy (such a disease in most cases is diagnosed in elderly people), there is a violation of the vascular system of the eyes. With the progression of the disease in patients, damage to the retina occurs at the microcellular level, due to which photoreceptors suffer, the functions of which are to organize the processes of perceiving a deep color gamut, as well as to provide far vision.
What is retinal dystrophy?
Retinal dystrophy is a disease accompanied by the death of the tissues of the eyeball. Patients who are diagnosed with an advanced stage of this disease begin to rapidly lose their vision, while they experience progressive degeneration of retinal tissue.
Modern medicine divides retinal dystrophy into acquired and congenital (inherited).
There is also a classification of this disease according to the localization of pathogenesis:
Peripheral dystrophy. It develops against the background of an injury to the organs of vision. Congenital or acquired myopia, as well as myopia, can serve as an impetus for the appearance of peripheral dystrophy;
central dystrophy. It is observed in the macular region of the eye, may occur against the background of age-related changes in the human body. Central retinal dystrophy is divided into wet and dry.
The risk group for developing retinal dystrophy includes elderly people with poor heredity, living in ecologically unfavorable regions and leading an unhealthy lifestyle.
According to statistics published in specialized media, retinal dystrophy occurs:
In people with myopia – in 30-40% of cases;
In people with farsightedness – in 6-8% of cases;
In people with normal vision – only in 2-3% of cases.
Symptoms of retinal dystrophy
Retinal dystrophy is usually accompanied by characteristic symptoms:
Loss of color perception;
Flashing black flies before the eyes;
Distortion of visually perceived images;
Lack of central vision;
Fuzzy perception of lateral objects;
The appearance of bright flashes before the eyes;
Image blur;
Violation of visual acuity;
The appearance of a veil before the eyes;
Inability to distinguish a static object from a moving one;
The emergence of the need for bright lighting while reading and writing.
If the patient does not turn to a medical institution for qualified help in time, the disease may progress, which will eventually lead to retinal detachment and complete loss of vision.
Causes of retinal dystrophy
The reasons for the development of retinal dystrophy, experts include the following factors:
Violation of the ocular vascular system. This pathology leads to the fact that in patients the process of scarring begins in the retina;
Disruption of the immune system can also lead to the onset of scarring of the layers of the retina;
Unbalanced diet. Many doctors believe that retinal dystrophy can develop against the background of the use of low-quality products with a violation of the diet;
Tobacco smoking negatively affects all internal organs and systems of the human body, but the organs of vision, in particular, the retina, are especially affected by nicotine;
The systematic use of alcoholic beverages can also provoke retinal dystrophy;
Transferred viral infections, during the treatment of which qualified medical care was not received;
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, endocrine system, hypertension;
Postponed surgery on the eyes;
Violation of metabolic processes in the human body, which lead to obesity.
Consequences of retinal dystrophy
If a patient with retinal dystrophy does not receive qualified medical care, but self-medicates, he may face serious consequences. The worst option for him would be a complete loss of vision, which can no longer be restored even surgically.
Treatment of retinal dystrophy
Before prescribing treatment to a patient who is suspected of having retinal dystrophy, an ophthalmologist conducts a comprehensive diagnosis, which includes the following measures:
Perimetry;
Laboratory tests;
Ultrasound examination of the eyeball;
Visometry;
Instrumental examination of the fundus;
Fluorescent angiography of the eye vessels;
Electrophysiological study (the main purpose of this procedure is to determine the working condition of the nerve cells of the retina, as well as the optic nerve).
In the treatment of retinal dystrophy, highly specialized specialists use various techniques. Currently, the most effective method of combating retinal dystrophy is laser surgery. This is due to the fact that this type of surgery is considered the least traumatic and completely bloodless, since the surgeon does not need to open the eyeball. In the process of surgical treatment with a laser beam, due to the non-contact effect on the affected area of the retina, the possibility of infection of the patient is completely excluded.
The drug method of treating retinal dystrophy involves the use of special medicines by patients.
In most cases, patients are prescribed the following medications:
Angioprotectors and vasodilators. This group of drugs has an action aimed at strengthening and expanding blood vessels. These include: Complamin, No-shpa, Askorutin, Papaverine, etc. The attending physician individually selects the dosage and form of medication for each patient, taking into account the degree of the disease and general well-being;
Antiplatelet agents. The action of these drugs is to prevent the formation of blood clots in the vessels. Most often, patients are prescribed Clopidogrel, Ticlodipine or Acetylsalicylic acid;
Vitamin Complexes, as well as separately vitamins of group B;
Lucentis – a drug that prevents the pathological growth of blood vessels;
Medicines that can effectively lower blood cholesterol levels;
Medicines that are injected into the structure of the eye, as they are able to improve microcirculation (for example, Pentoxifylline);
Preparations that are obtained from biological material taken from cattle. This group of drugs is called “polypeptides” (it includes, for example, Retinolamine);
Eye drops, such as Oftan-Katachrom, Taufon, Emoksipin, etc. This group of medicines improves metabolic processes, as well as rapid regeneration of eyeball tissues.
When prescribing drug therapy, the attending physician independently develops a regimen for taking drugs. Typically, patients with such a complex diagnosis have to repeat the course of treatment several times a year. In parallel with drug therapy for retinal dystrophy, specialists use various physiotherapeutic methods.
A pronounced therapeutic effect is achieved with the following procedures:
Photostimulation or electrical stimulation of the retina;
Electrophoresis (during this procedure, No-shpa, heparin or nicotinic acid is used);
The use of low-energy laser radiation to stimulate the retina;
Laser irradiation of blood (intravenous);
Magnetotherapy, etc.
In advanced cases, specialists perform surgical treatment of retinal dystrophy.
Patients are individually selected type of surgical intervention:
Laser coagulation of the retina. After such a surgical intervention, patients need to take special drugs belonging to the group of angiogenesis inhibitors. Thanks to medical support, abnormal vessels will not grow in patients, and the process of progression of macular degeneration of the retina (wet) will be stopped;
Revascularizing and vasoreconstructive surgical interventions;
Vitrectomy.
After completing a course of therapy, patients who have been diagnosed with retinal dystrophy are required to carry out preventive measures at regular intervals. It is strictly forbidden for such a category of patients to overstrain the organs of vision (in the process of reading it is necessary to take breaks for rest). Being outdoors under the influence of ultraviolet rays should be only in sunglasses. Such people are advised to reconsider their diet and enrich it with foods that are good for vision. Every day you need to take vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the full functioning of the organs of vision. You should completely give up bad habits, such as smoking and alcohol abuse.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine in combination with traditional methods of treatment quite successfully fights various diseases of the organs of vision, including the initial stage of retinal dystrophy. Patients are advised to undergo a course of hirudotherapy, in which leeches inject their saliva, rich in useful enzymes, into the patient’s blood.
The bite of a leech has a unique beneficial effect on the human body:
Relieves inflammation;
Normalizes the functioning of the immune system;
Acts as an anesthetic;
Helps cleanse the body of toxins;
Lowers the level of bad cholesterol and blood sugar, etc.
In folk medicine, there are a large number of recipes that can be used in the treatment of retinal dystrophy:
Take fresh goat’s milk and mix it with boiled water (1:1). After that, drip the sore eye with the resulting mixture and cover it with a dark cloth for half an hour. The course of treatment is 1 week, it is believed that during this time the process of retinal detachment will be stopped;
Take in certain proportions and mix the following components: needles (5 parts), rose hips (2 parts), onion peel (2 parts). Pour boiling water over everything and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Chilled and filtered broth should be drunk 0,5 liters per day, divided into several doses. The course of treatment is 1 month;
Pour 1 tablespoon of cumin into an enamel container and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Put the dishes on the fire and boil the liquid for 5 minutes. In the resulting broth, add cornflower flowers (1 tablespoon), mix and cover. After cooling and filtering, the decoction is used as eye drops (2 drops should be instilled 2 times a day in each eye);
Pour 1 tbsp. a spoonful of celandine in any container and pour boiling water. Put the dishes on a slow fire and boil for several minutes. After the broth has cooled and infused, it is ready for use. It is recommended to instill eyes 3 times a day, 3 drops. The treatment course takes 1 month;
Tinctures from birch leaves, horsetail, lingonberries, mustard and other herbs useful for vision can be taken orally several times a day.
Author of the article: Degtyareva Marina Vitalievna, ophthalmologist, specially for the site ayzdorov.ru