What is GA Eye Disease?

For those of you who are as ignorant as I was a few years ago, you must be wondering: What is GA Eye Disease? Well, let me explain it in simple terms. GA, or geographic atrophy, is a disease that occurs when the macula, the central part of the retina, deteriorates gradually. This condition is normally seen in people over 50 years and often leads to blindness in the elderly.

GA Eye Disease results in the destruction of cells in the macula, this makes it difficult to see objects  CLEARLY, read, drive, identify or recognize people. If you or a family member is experiencing such signs as blurry or distorted central vision, do not worry; some things can help ease the progression of GA and maintain vision.

What is GA Eye Disease?

GA is a type of eye disease in which the macula, a central part of the retina, is damaged. This condition is a progressive degeneration of the specific ganglion cells in the retina that provide central vision.

Geographic atrophy is a dangerous disease; it is frequently linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is another common form of vision loss among the elderly.

One of the features of GA is that they appear conical and have an uneven shape, as well as differ in size. These patches can expand, which makes them worse, affecting central vision.

Presently, there is no known treatment for patients with GA; however, there are possible ways to try to slow down the progress of the disease. It is pertinent for us to know what the causes of geographic atrophy are:

Causes GA eye disease

GA, or geographic atrophy, is a specific form of AMD, or age-related macular deterioration , that affects the macular region of the central vision. It is a chronic disease that affects the eyes and results in a gradual loss of vision.

So, what makes a person develop GA eye disease? Let’s dive into some of the key factors that may contribute to the development of this condition.

1. Genetics: Genetic influence is one cause of GA eye disease. Scientific research has revealed that patients with a family history of macular degeneration are prone to this eye condition. Certain genes are known to cause susceptibility to GA, and this disease is greatly influenced by genetics.
2. Age Genetic factors and age play a major role in AMD and GA, as the name implies, ‘age-related macular degeneration’. Although people of any age can develop the disease, it is more common in older people, especially those over the age of 60. Scientists believe that this condition stems from aging, which renders the retinas of the eyes vulnerable to harm and leads to the occurrence of GA.
3. Smoking: Among all the risk factors, smoking can cause GA eye disease. Smoking harms the tiny blood vessels in the retina and reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the eye, therefore increasing the risk of macular degeneration.
4. Sunlight exposure: Some of the specific light-induced changes to retinal cells that contribute to the development of the disease are induced by UV radiation. Protective measures to avoid sun damage to the eyes include the use of sunglasses that protect against UV and wearing hats when outside.
5. Poor diet: low consumption of fruits and vegetables and high consumption of processed foods and saturated fats may lead to the development of GA eye disease. Some clinical studies have indicated that illumination from antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and wealthy foods may help guard against macular degeneration of the eyes. Eating healthily may help to prevent or delay the development of GA.

How does GA impact your vision?

It begins at the macula and progresses outward, forming blind spots (scotomas) and warping of vision. Another disturbing fact regarding GA eye disease is that its progression is quite unpredictable. Sometimes you can wake up and see well, and the next day you can’t see anything in front of you. This can be very frustrating.

Currently, there are few therapeutic approaches available for the treatment of GA since there is no known cure for the disease. Still, some strategies can alleviate the symptoms and can halt the progression of the disease.

Diagnosis of GA Eye Disease

As for GA, diagnosis and timely detection of diseases are important for the right treatment and further steps. So, to better understand how to diagnose GA eye disease, the information below is very important.

When it comes to the diagnosis of GA, optometrists and other eye specialists use the following tests: the optometrist test, imaging tests, and genetic tests.

In the course of a detailed eye check, an ophthalmologist will observe the macula and other parts of the eye and assess whether there is any atrophy or injury. This may require the use of such equipment as the slit lamp or the ophthalmoscope to get a better view of the retina.

Other diagnostic tools, like OCT and FAF, are also important imaging tools that can be used in the diagnosis of GA. OCT applies light waves to produce a cross-sectional image of the retina and helps ophthalmologists observe any changes in the macula.

In addition, fundus autofluorescence (FAF)  demonstrates the concentrations of lipofuscin, which is a waste product deposited in the retinal pigment epithelium, which gives useful information regarding the macular status.

In some cases, a doctor may also suggest genetic testing to understand whether an individual has certain gene factors that contribute to the development of GA.

Though there is no sure way to determine the probability of the occurrence of GA by genetic tests, it can give a clue regarding the probability of the occurrence of the disease that can help in the treatment process.

Read also: How Long Can You Live With Grave’s Disease?

Treatment for GA Eye Disease

There is no known treatment for geographic atrophy; however, patients with this eye disease can manage the condition through some measures. Depending on the stage of the disease, here are some of the top recommendations:

1. Anti-VEGF therapy

This treatment involves giving the patient injections of drugs that aim at preventing the formation of new blood vessels in the affected eye, thus preventing further deterioration of the condition.

Although this approach has been effective in clinical trials, it may not be appropriate for everyone and may entail regular doctor visits for injections.

2. Stem cell therapy

It is an innovative approach in which stem cells are introduced to the affected part of the eye to form new and healthier cells in place of the degenerated ones and thus help restore vision. Although the therapy is currently at a fairly early stage, stem cell therapy may indeed be a very promising approach for the treatment of GA in the future.

3. Nutritional supplements

Nutrients like zinc, vitamin C, and lutein can slow the progression of GA and prevent further vision loss. This means that these supplements can easily be taken along with your meals to help promote eye health.

How does GA differ from AMD?

In terms of conditions of the eye, two of the most frequently confused diseases are geographic atrophy (GA) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Both affect the macula, which is the portion of the retina that controls central vision; however, they have different characteristics.

GA is a late stage of AMD, especially the dry type. It is a slow, painless process in which the cells in the macula degenerate, causing the central vision to fail. This leads to situations where objects are seen as unclear or distorted, people are difficult to distinguish, and one cannot read or drive properly.

AMD, on the other hand, refers to a broader kind of macular degeneration, encompassing both the dry type and the wet type of the disease.

Wet AMD defines itself by the formation of new vessels under the retina, which tend to leak and bleed, leading to rapid and severe vision loss. This form demands an urgent intervention, which may involve injections or laser therapy.

GA and AMD affect the macula and cause vision loss; GA is a dry AMD end stage, but AMD has both dry and wet types. Both diseases, if detected in their early stages, can be treated and vision preserved before they deteriorate.

Some possible causes of GA eye disease include genetic predispositions, age, smoking, exposure to direct sunlight, or a poor diet. Several of these factors, like genes and age, cannot be avoided; however, it is possible to limit the chances of developing the disease.

If you have a family history of macular degeneration or other incidences of the disease, you should endeavor to visit an eye doctor regularly for proper eye screening and also follow other preventive measures.