Macular Degeneration: Diagnosis and Treatment Options

If you think that you may have macular degeneration, or come from a genetic line of individuals who have the disease, you should call Eye Care North today. Our professional staff has the experience and tools to diagnose and help treat macular degeneration properly. This severe condition can threaten your ability to see, so take your care seriously and see the difference that we can make!

What is Macular Degeneration? 

Macular degeneration is a disease that is often associated with natural aging. This disease is most commonly seen in patients who are over 60 years of age. Also, it is the leading cause of irreversible vision damage or loss, and in Caucasians over the age of 40, it is the leading cause of blindness. Approximately 11 million Americans have macular degeneration, with an expected increase to 22 million by the year 2050.

The macula is the center portion of the retina. This area is responsible for housing light-sensitive cells and relaying these signals to the brain. The macula is responsible for producing crisp and clear vision that lies directly in front of you. Any damage to the macula can cause distortions or blurry vision in the central portion of your sight field. This damage can negatively impact your ability to drive, read, or perform many of your daily activities.

Macular degeneration causes the deterioration of the paper-thin macula. The most common type of macular degeneration is age-related. The disease can progress very quickly or slowly. Macular degeneration can affect one or both of your eyes. There are two types of macular degeneration, wet and dry. A patient can exhibit either one or both types of the disease.

Signs of Macular Degeneration

Identifying macular degeneration at the earlier stages can be one of the most significant factors in allowing for treatment. However, there are no known cures for macular degeneration.

Treatment can help to reduce the damage to your vision. It is also essential to recognize that while macular degeneration can lead to legal blindness, that it does not leave patients completely blind.

Some of the earliest signs of macular degeneration can be gradual changes in your vision clarity. Many people also notice an issue with seeing straight lines. Straight lines can often appear distorted or bent. If you notice changes to your vision that affect the central part of your field of vision, you should seek medical treatment.

Treatment Options

If you have been diagnosed with macular degeneration, it is crucial to enlist a professional team to give you all the treatment options and help you identify the best treatment plan to fit your needs. Eye Care North has the staff and tools to help you monitor, plan, and treat macular degeneration. We stay on the cutting edge of science, so you know that you will receive the best care when it comes to managing your disease.

There are some practices that we recommend to many patients who have macular degeneration. These can include anti-angiogenic drugs, laser therapies, and dietary therapy, such as the introduction of specific vitamins.

Anti-angiogenic drugs help to keep new blood vessels from forming in the eyes that can continue to deteriorate the quality of your vision. This approach can also block blood vessels from leaking in the case of wet macular degeneration.

Laser therapies are often targeted to destroy actively growing blood vessels. These blood vessels can have a drastic negative impact on your ability to see.

Finally, specific supplement vitamins that are high in vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper have been shown to reduce the risk of vision loss in some patients with moderate to advanced macular degeneration.

Overview

While macular degeneration is a severe condition that affects millions of Americans, you cannot afford to trust your sight to just anybody. Call Eye Care North in Cave Creek, AZ and see the difference that we can make in your care.