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The Center's Winter Community Meeting at The Jules Stein Eye Institute Auditorium held a capacity audience on January 24, 2002. "Vision and the Aging Eye: Macular Degeneration and Other Eye Conditions" featuring Kent W. Small, M.D., attracted people from as far north as Bakersfield as well as the surrounding areas of Los Angeles.

Dr. Small, a Professor of Ophthalmology at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute, began his talk with a basic description of the eye and it's many intricate parts, including the cornea, the lens, the retina, and the macula. He described the eyeball as a camera, with the cornea and the lens as its focus, and the retina and the macula as the film. After briefly touching on each part's individual function and purpose, Dr. Small proceeded to detail typical vision loss and the causes of visual deterioration.

Although Dr. Small specializes in macular degeneration, his talk also addressed issues of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and floaters. Symptoms were enumerated for each condition, as well as preventive measures and treatments.

Cataracts, caused by cloudiness in the lens of the eye, are the number one cause of blindness in the world and are most common after the age of 60. Surgery is recommended for this condition when vision gets significantly clouded, and is a common, outpatient procedure. Dr. Small discredited a number of myths regarding cataracts -straining your eyes does not cause cataracts; it is not a film over the eye, it is not cancer, and it cannot spread to the other eye. Cataracts may be a function of normal aging, diabetes, family history, or previous eye surgery or injury.

Glaucoma is another threat to vision caused by high pressure in the eye, damaging the optic nerve, impairing peripheral vision. Risks increase with age and with family history. Glaucoma can be easily detected in regular eye exams, and if caught early can be quickly and easily treated with drops.

Macular degeneration, the most common cause of vision loss among the elderly in the United States, was the focus of Dr. Small's talk. The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina and is located in the back of the eye where the light focuses. This degenerative eye condition affects the specialized part of the retina and results in the loss of central vision while the peripheral vision remains intact.

There are two main types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. The dry classification is more common. Caused by deposits of waste products that hamper the function of the macula, dry macular degeneration can cause very gradual loss of vision. Doctors generally advise patients to increase their intake of green leafy vegetables, especially spinach and collard greens that are rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants. Wet macular degeneration is more rare and much more serious. The wet classification is caused by blood vessels leaking behind the eye, which can burst suddenly and cause vision problems virtually without warning.

Sudden changes and problems in vision should be immediately addressed and discussed with an ophthalmologist. Dr. Small advises that adults have their eyes checked every year and that remedies and treatments always be approved by a doctor.