How To Prevent Macular Degeneration

2024-04-17 Eye Associates

What is Macular Degeneration?

Age-related Macular Degeneration, also known as AMD, is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans 65 years of age and older. With AMD, the macula, a very small but key part of the retina, is damaged. The macula allows us to see clearly for daily activities such as driving and reading.

Macular Degeneration Symptoms

Symptoms of macular degeneration include:

Blue color to your vision
Distortions in the central part of your vision
Color perception compromised

Macular degeneration rarely shows symptoms in its early stages, so annual eye examinations are important. Your trusted eye doctor can help you find the disease early and start treatments when they are most effective.

Who is at risk for Macular Degeneration?

Risk factors for macular degeneration include:

age
smoking
obesity
race (Caucasians have the highest risk)
heredity, and
gender (women have the highest risk.)

What is the difference between wet vs dry macular degeneration?

Dry macular degeneration, also called non-neovascular degeneration, is diagnosed when drusen - which are deposits of debris from deteriorating tissue - appear. Macular drusen or drusen spots are a defining symptom of dry AMD and can be detected during digital eye exam or retinal photography.

Wet macular degeneration is a much more serious condition, developing when blood vessels under your retina leak blood/fluids, damaging your macula.

What is Neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration?

Neovascular macular degeneration is a very aggressive form of degeneration where the body grows new blood vessels to support the dying tissue. These new vessels are very weak and have a tendency to bleed, resulting in additional damage to the internal ocular structures. Laser treatment and ocular injections are often used to minimize the inflammation of these new blood vessels along with vitamin therapy as mentioned above.