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Did you know macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss among U.S. citizens aged 55 and older? This incurable condition involves the steady degeneration of the part of the retina known as the macula. It makes clear and sharp vision impossible for such essential daily tasks as driving and reading. While there is no cure, there are treatment options to help prevent the condition from advancing.
What is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a chronic eye disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. It is a leading cause of vision loss in people aged 50 and older and can significantly impair tasks like reading, driving, and recognizing faces. There are two primary types of macular degeneration: dry AMD and wet AMD.
The more common form is dry macular degeneration, which thankfully is not as serious a condition as wet macular degeneration which causes serious loss of vision. The early stages of this disease, when macular tissues begin to age and thin out, are considered the dry version. Drusen, or yellow spots, begin to form in the macula of the retina, resulting in the gradual loss of vision.
About one out of every 10 cases of dry macular degeneration will advance to become the more serious form of vision loss known as wet macular degeneration. Because new blood vessels begin to grow underneath the retina, they begin to leak out both blood and other fluids. This results in retinal cells becoming permanently damaged. When these cells die off, the central vision is affected by blind spots.
Symptoms of Macular Degeneration
Most individuals who experience macular degeneration start to notice a gradual loss of vision that is not accompanied by any pain. In very rare cases, catastrophic vision loss may be very sudden. There are certain symptoms that individuals should notice to get professional macular degeneration treatment from our specialists at Campus Eye Group. These symptoms include:
- Vision becomes distorted or fuzzy
- Noticing shadows in the central line of vision
- Central vision that appears crooked
- Noticing that colors have decreased intensity
- The need for brighter illumination when reading or doing close-up work
- Hallucinations involving people or geometric shapes
Individuals who experience any or all of the above symptoms should schedule a consultation with one of our eye specialists at Campus Eye Group as soon as possible. If the disease has advanced to the wet macular degeneration stage, there are several treatment methods approved by the FDA. These wet macular degeneration treatments found to be successful include the use of such drugs as Eylea, Lucentis, Visudyne and Macugen, used with photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Treatment for Macular Degeneration
Although there are currently no FDA-approved drug treatments for dry macular degeneration, your eye specialist can recommend a regimen involving regular exercise, a healthy diet, and the use of UV sunglasses for eye protection. These steps will help decrease the risk of dry macular degeneration progressing into the more extreme loss of vision associated with wet macular degeneration. Our retina specialists are also now equipped to treat the wet form of the disease with multiple new medicines and advancements in therapy.
Schedule Your Appointment
If you have any questions regarding macular degeneration, feel free to contact us for a consultation. Campus Eye Group in Hamilton, NJ, strives to help our patients feel comfortable and knowledgeable about eye care.
Dr Singh did a great job on my cataracts and was very helpful explaining all the possibilities to me, his assistants and all the surgical staff were great especially the anesthesiologist who was second to none she took the time to explain in great detail what she would do and how I would be taken care of. I went into the surgery calm and well informed. THANKS TO ALL THE STAFF.
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