The key difference between macular degeneration and glaucoma is that macular degeneration is an eye condition that causes central vision loss while glaucoma is an eye condition that causes peripheral vision loss.
Macular degeneration and glaucoma are two eye conditions that cause vision loss. However, macular degeneration affects the macula of the eye and causes central vision loss whereas glaucoma affects the optic nerve of the eye and causes peripheral vision loss.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Macular Degeneration
3. What is Glaucoma
4. Similarities – Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma
5. Macular Degeneration vs. Glaucoma in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma
7. Summary – Macular Degeneration vs. Glaucoma
What is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is an age-related retinal condition that affects central vision. It mostly occurs in people over the age of 50. Macular degeneration is due to problems in the macular; the central part of the retina. Macular degeneration may develop in one eye or both eyes. Dry macular degeneration is due to the tiny yellow protein deposits called drusen formed under the macula, whereas wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels develop under the retina and macula. The risk factors for this condition are family history, being overweight, smoking, hypertension, eating a diet with high saturated fats, and being white. Moreover, the symptoms of this condition may include being less able to see in low light, blurred vision, changes in the way you see colours, low vision, and straight lines seen as wavy and blank spots.
Figure 01: Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration can be diagnosed through the Amsler grid test, dilated eye exam, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and optical coherence tomography angiography. Furthermore, taking nutritional supplements such as vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zinc, copper, and zeaxanthin, medications like aflibercept, ranibizumab, bevacizumab, faricimab, brolucizumab, photodynamic therapy, and laser photoregulation.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition due to damage to the optic nerve of the eye. This condition usually happens when extra fluid builds up in the front part of the eye, leading to increased pressure, and ultimately damaging the optic nerve. Moreover, the symptoms of this condition may include gradually patchy blind spots in side vision, difficulty seeing things in central vision, severe headache, severe eye pain, nausea or vomiting, blurred vision, halos, eye redness, gradual blurred vision, loss of side vision, cloudy eye, increased blinking, tears without crying in infants, worsened near-sightedness in children, and blurred vision with exercises. The risk factors for glaucoma are high internal eye pressure, age over 55, Black, Asian, Hispanic heritage, family history, certain medical conditions like diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia, corneas that thin in the center, extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness, eye injury, and taking corticosteroid medicines.
Figure 02: Glaucoma
Glaucoma can be diagnosed through medical history, tonometry, dilated eye examination, visual field test, pachymetry, and gonioscopy. Furthermore, treatment options for glaucoma may include prescription eye drop medications (prostaglandins, beta blockers, alpha-adrenergic agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, Rho kinase inhibitors, and miotic or cholinergic agents), laser therapy, filtering surgery, drainage tubes, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
What are the Similarities Between Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma?
- Macular degeneration and glaucoma are two eye conditions that cause vision loss.
- Both conditions are a group of eye conditions.
- They cause complications.
- Both conditions can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination.
- They can be treated through respective surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma?
Macular degeneration is an eye condition that causes central vision loss, while glaucoma is an eye condition that causes peripheral vision loss. Thus, this is the key difference between macular degeneration and glaucoma. Furthermore, macular degeneration is due to problems in the macular of the retina of the eye, while glaucoma is due to problems in the optic nerve of the eye.
The infographic below presents the differences between macular degeneration and glaucoma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
FAQ: Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma
What is more serious, macular degeneration or glaucoma?
Macular degeneration causes the loss of central vision, but glaucoma can cause complete vision loss. Therefore, glaucoma can be more serious than macular degeneration.
Can a person have both macular degeneration and glaucoma?
Both macular degeneration and glaucoma can occur concurrently and cause a serious impact on vision.
Can macular degeneration lead to blindness?
Severe macular degeneration causes central vision loss. It rarely leads to blindness.
Summary – Macular Degeneration vs. Glaucoma
Most people have eye problems at one-time point in their life. These conditions can be minor or severe and need specialist care. Macular degeneration and glaucoma are two eye conditions that cause vision loss. Macular degeneration causes central vision loss, while glaucoma causes peripheral vision loss. Moreover, macular degeneration is due to problems in the macular of the retina of the eye, whereas glaucoma is due to problems in the optic nerve of the eye. So, this summarizes the difference between macular degeneration and glaucoma.
Reference:
1. Boyd, Kierstan. “What Is Macular Degeneration?” American Academy of Ophthalmology.
2. “Glaucoma.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Early age-related macular degeneration” ByCommunity Eye Health (CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED) via Flickr
2. “Glaucoma with corneal oedema” By Community Eye Health (CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED) via Flickr