Macular degeneration affects the macula of your retina and, while not causing total blindness, makes it harder for people to view fine details or straight lines clearly and read books or drive cars safely. Peripheral vision remains unaffected.

Dry macular degeneration usually progresses slowly and painlessly, manifesting itself by deposits under the retina known as drusen forming beneath it.

Diagnosis

Macular degeneration refers to the gradual degradation or breakdown of the macula, an area located at the back of your eye that contains millions of light-sensitive cells and allows you to see fine details. Macular degeneration affects central vision and makes reading, driving and other daily tasks that require clear focus difficult or impossible; it does not lead to total blindness though as peripheral or side vision remains intact.

Age-related macular degeneration, commonly referred to as dry macular degeneration, is one of the more prevalent forms of this condition. Drusen are small pieces of yellow or white fatty protein deposits beneath your retina that form under it and cause damage that gradually impairs vision – gradually blurred or darkened vision can develop as damaged areas cannot function normally and your vision becomes impaired over time. Dry macular degeneration may progress to wet form macular degeneration over time.

Under wet macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels form beneath your retina and leak fluid into the macula, potentially distorting and losing central vision over time, but rarely leading to complete blindness. Therefore, it is imperative that if any changes in central vision occur such as distortion of straight lines immediately consult your physician as this condition could progress rapidly and become blinding over time.

Your ophthalmologist will perform a comprehensive eye exam, including taking your health history, performing a slit lamp exam and testing various forms of vision. They may suggest fluorescein angiography; this involves injecting harmless dye into one vein in your arm and taking rapid sequence photographs as it passes through a network of tiny blood vessels in your retina – this allows them to identify any leakages as well as serve as guides for treatment plans.

Macular degeneration cannot be reversed, but there are treatments available that may slow its progress and preserve some vision. Your eye doctor can help manage symptoms with medications, vitamins, or special filters for your glasses – they may even refer you to organizations which assist in daily activities like purchasing tinted lenses and digital devices.

Early Detection

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition. If diagnosed early enough, treatment can begin sooner and may slow its progress. Regular dilated eye exams are the best way to detect macular degeneration – our eye doctors at beraja Medical Institute use modern equipment to detect macular degeneration as well as cataracts and glaucoma so be sure to make an appointment by calling or booking online today!

Macular degeneration affects the macula, the central region of your vision responsible for straight lines, facial recognition and reading. Over time it becomes thinner and fades away altogether; leading to blurriness or dark areas in your field of vision that do not cause total blindness despite having left other peripheral vision intact.

There are two forms of macular degeneration: dry and wet. Ninety percent of those living with macular degeneration have dry AMD, in which your central vision gradually decreases as protein clumps called drusen form under your retina. Though dry AMD should not pose a serious threat to vision, it’s still wise to visit your physician if any noticeable changes in vision arise or occur.

Wet macular degeneration is less frequent but more serious. Under your retina, abnormal blood vessels may form and leak fluid into the macula cells causing rapid and severe vision loss. Early treatment with medication or laser coagulation may help reverse its progress.

Macular degeneration can be detected using various tests, including the Amsler grid – a chart with black straight lines that looks like a checkerboard, where any deviation in their straightness indicates macular degeneration. Your eye doctor may also use other techniques, including injecting harmless orange-red dye into your arm before measuring retinal blood vessel activity using an ocular angiogram tool.

Your eye doctor can offer more than diagnostic tools; they also provide nutritional supplements, sunglasses, and strategies to protect against macular degeneration. Studies have demonstrated the value of eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish; exercising regularly; controlling your blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking to delay or prevent macular degeneration.

Treatment

Macular degeneration is a retinal condition in which the central part of the retina gradually degenerates, rendering it hard or impossible for patients to see straight ahead. The macula, located near the center of retinal tissue is responsible for central vision such as facial recognition and color identification; driving; reading; sharp, clear details. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among those over 50 living in the United States; although painful it is manageable through treatment options that can help slow its progress.

There are two types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration results from yellow protein deposits called drusen that form beneath the retina, damaging its tissues gradually over time and leading to progressive macular degeneration. Wet macular degeneration occurs less frequently, typically caused by abnormal blood vessel growth under the retina that leak fluid into scar tissue inducing macula scarring that scars more severely than its counterpart causing rapid loss of vision.

Macular degeneration usually begins in one eye and spreads to both. Although macular degeneration is painless, symptoms include dark spots at the center of your vision, difficulty seeing straight objects, and distortion of straight lines. Therefore, regular eye examinations are crucial in order to stay aware of any changes to your vision and identify any concerns immediately.

As soon as wet macular degeneration is diagnosed, early treatment increases your chances of preserving some or all of your central vision. Your doctor can prescribe medications, vitamins and supplements to slow its progress while fundus fluorescein angiography involves injecting dye into your arm before rapidly photographing retina for quick identification of abnormal blood vessels leaking fluid; new therapies are being tested that could prevent or delay further vision loss.

Prevention

Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss among those over 60, occurring when damage to the macula of your retina occurs, leading to blurry or no vision in your center field of vision while not affecting peripheral (side) vision. Although usually occurring bilaterally, one eye may be more severely affected than the other. Macular degeneration does not lead to total blindness but can make reading, driving and recognizing faces difficult as well as difficulty seeing fine details.

There is no known cure for dry macular degeneration, but you can take steps to halt its progression. Routine eye exams, eating plenty of green leafy vegetables and fish, taking vitamin supplements (particularly the AREDS2 formula vitamins), wearing sunglasses that block UV rays, and using sunglasses with UV filters will all play an integral part in protecting against macular degeneration. Speaking with your physician about any risk factors you have for macular degeneration such as age or family history as well as smoking, cardiovascular disease or obesity is key in protecting against macular degeneration.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and leak fluid or bleed, creating new scar tissue which blocks light rays, distorting vision, and eventually leading to rapid vision loss. If this sudden change in your vision occurs, contact your physician immediately as rapid vision loss could ensue rapidly and severely – so seek medical advice as soon as possible if any such change arises.

Macular degeneration isn’t completely understood, but we do know it worsens with age. Genetic factors increase your risk for the condition; while factors associated with aging–including obesity, smoking, high cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels as well as race (Caucasian)–may also increase it. People who have a family history of macular degeneration are at an increased risk; women, Caucasians of descent as well as light eye color can all increase it further. You can reduce your chances of macular degeneration by not smoking or eating healthily while being physically active!