Age can bring about macular degeneration, which affects the macula of your retina that controls central vision. This disease typically results in gradual or sudden vision loss in your central field of view without pain.

Macular degeneration occurs when weak new blood vessels grow under the retina and leak fluid or blood. This form can be treated using laser therapy.

Amsler Grid

An Amsler grid is a simple yet effective test to identify macular degeneration. Resembling a checkerboard with its central dot and straight lines, the Amsler grid can detect signs of macular degeneration by showing lines becoming wavy or missing altogether. If you detect changes to this grid’s appearance immediately contact an eye care practitioner as early intervention can prevent further loss of vision.

Macular degeneration (also referred to as age-related macular degeneration [AMD] and vascular macular degeneration) causes a loss of central vision that interferes with your ability to read, drive and recognize faces. It’s a progressive condition that may progress into total blindness while leaving peripheral and side vision unaffected. There are two forms of macular degeneration: dry macular degeneration characterized by gradual macular atrophy; wet macular degeneration due to fluid or abnormal blood vessel growth under the retina causes rapid central vision loss caused by sudden or rapid loss caused by sudden fluid or abnormal blood vessel formation underneath retina resulting in sudden or rapid loss of central vision caused by sudden or rapid loss due fluid or abnormal blood vessel formation under retinal layer of macular.

Wet macular degeneration (WMD) poses an increased risk of permanent vision loss. Early detection is key as AMD can rapidly lead to significant vision impairment within weeks or months of its onset. A comprehensive eye exam with your eye care provider should include using an Amsler grid to detect any central vision issues; special drops that dilate pupils for more detailed views of retina and macula; OCT testing will also be administered and can provide invaluable information regarding your retina/macula health.

Some patients suffering from dry macular degeneration can potentially stop its progression by taking certain vitamin supplements, including those rich in vitamins C and E, zinc, and copper. Studies show that taking such an regimen helps slow central vision loss associated with dry macular degeneration.

Angiography

At this test, your doctor will inject harmless orange-red dye into a vein in your arm and take pictures as the dye travels through the blood vessels of your eye. This helps your physician detect abnormal blood vessels that leak or bleed; such abnormalities could indicate wet macular degeneration. Your physician may also look for yellow or off-white deposits called drusen near the macula that could indicate wet macular degeneration – although they don’t always indicate wet macular degeneration.

Angiography allows doctors to assess the efficacy of treatments like laser therapy. For instance, pre- and post-treatment angiograms may show how photodynamic therapy (PDT) laser is altering retinal blood vessel structures during treatment.

Angiography can also be an invaluable way of tracking the development of neovascular AMD, providing insight into areas with poor or inadequate circulation, the presence of leaky blood vessels and any treatment-induced changes on them. With this data in hand, future treatments and assessments of their efficacy can be planned more precisely.

Age-related macular degeneration, commonly referred to as ARMD, is an eye disease in which the central part of the retina degenerates over time, compromising sharp central vision and making it hard or impossible to read fine print or drive safely. It can also lead to serious complications, including blindness. There are two main forms of ARMD: dry and wet macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration is more prevalent, affecting light-sensitive cells within the macula by degenerating and dying off over time. Wet macular degeneration, the more severe form, occurs when new blood vessels grow underneath the retina and leak or bleed. Regular eye exams and discussing any concerns with your physician is key; during an appointment they will test how sharp your vision is using an Amsler grid chart that mimics graph paper; any indications that straight lines appear wavy or missing may point towards macular degeneration.

Retinal Photography

Retinal photography uses a special digital camera to take pictures of the back of your eye. The process is quick and painless; only a slight flash of light occurs. A retinal photo provides your VSP network doctor with a permanent record of how well your retinal structures – including optic nerve, blood vessels and macula – are functioning compared year to year, helping him or her detect and diagnose changes that may have taken place over time.

Photographs can also be used to identify drusen, small yellow or off-white deposits under the retina that can be early symptoms of macular degeneration. While drusen don’t indicate its extent, their presence indicates you could be at risk of AMD and could eventually experience central vision loss. They can also help determine whether you have wet form of macular degeneration for which further testing would be required.

Your doctor will use this test to inject dye into a vein in your arm, before taking pictures of your retina as the dye travels through its blood vessels and travels through them. This allows him or her to identify any abnormalities with regards to retinal blood vessel leakage or bulging areas; these results can then be compared with pseudocolor Optos ultra-widefield retinal imaging and conventional real-color fundus photographs (CFP).

Your doctor will use special drops to dilate and widen your eyes before using a specialized camera to capture high-resolution images of your retina, then transfer the data directly onto a computer screen for viewing by an eye care professional. This technology has become more prevalent in ophthalmology over time and enables faster and more accurate diagnosis and management of ocular, neurological, systemic and other conditions; also increasing access to urgent subspecialty consultations through telemedicine services and allowing telemedicine consultations over traditional means.

Drusen Test

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes yellow deposits called drusen to form under the retina, visible during eye examinations and photographs of retinal photos. Drusen are an indicator that central vision has begun deteriorating; color vision remains clear, however. AMD may progress into wet macular degeneration in which abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid or blood onto it causing sudden loss of vision.

Dry macular degeneration (AMD) is the most prevalent form of AMD, typically caused by natural aging processes that lead to the growth of drusen under the retina. While drusen are no guarantee that someone will progress into wet AMD, they certainly increase risk factors associated with it.

Your eye care provider can detect drusen during a dilated exam by inspecting the back of your retina with a slit lamp and lens. There are two kinds of drusen, hard and soft; hard drusen typically has sharper edges than its soft counterpart but still poses potential damage over time.

Medium-sized drusen may cause no noticeable reduction in vision, while larger ones may cause decreased visibility, particularly as they cluster closer together. They may also be linked with other symptoms of early AMD such as distortion or an Amsler grid pattern wavy line pattern.

SD-OCT provides an effective means of evaluating drusen characteristics such as size, shape and location. Furthermore, this advanced technology can detect subretinal fluid (SRF) and its progression toward atrophy; and identify formation of a drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (PED), with subsequent progression toward complete retinal pigment epithelium atrophy with choroidal neovascularization (cRORA). These images help your doctor gain a clearer picture of how changes develop over time in your macula.