Macular Degeneration

What is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration is when your macula becomes thinner, resulting in problems with your central vision. The macula is located at the center of your retina, the layer of light-sensing tissue in the backs of your eyes.

While the rest of the retina is responsible for side vision, the macula allows you to see what’s directly ahead. Macular degeneration rarely results in complete blindness. However, it can cause blind spots in your central vision. These blind spots can appear dark or blurry. You may also find that colors look less bright and are harder to distinguish.

If allowed to progress, the disease can make many everyday activities difficult or impossible, including driving, reading, and watching television.

What are the forms of macular degeneration?

There are two forms of macular degeneration: dry and wet. They involve the following:

Dry Macular Degeneration

Most people with macular degeneration have the dry form. A telltale sign is that your eye contains a high volume of drusen, deposits of fatty material.

Symptoms of dry macular degeneration usually come on slowly and affect both eyes. Symptoms include distorted or blurry vision and needing more light to read.

Though there’s no cure for dry macular degeneration, it’s less likely to cause severe vision loss than wet macular degeneration. If detected early, treatment for dry macular degeneration can slow or even prevent damage to your vision.

Wet Macular Degeneration

Wet macular degeneration results from abnormal blood vessels leaking blood into your macula. The symptoms of wet macular degeneration usually appear suddenly and rapidly get worse. Eventually, the abnormal blood vessels form scars, resulting in a loss of central vision.

Treatments for wet macular degeneration can preserve your vision or even reverse some vision loss if started early enough.

How is macular degeneration treated?

Treatment for dry macular degeneration is lifestyle-based. Your doctor may:

• Recommend a formula of high dose antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements
• Help you follow a diet high in fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants
• Provide magnifying devices and advice for adapting to changes in your vision

Treatment for wet macular degeneration can include injections of anti-angiogenic drugs to stop the growth of new blood vessels as well as laser therapy to destroy abnormal blood vessels.

To get a diagnosis or to learn about treatment for macular degeneration, book an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Wayne H. Martin, MD today.