Macular degeneration is a common disorder of the eyes which causes central loss of vision. The central vision is what you see whenever you are looking straight ahead. The peripheral vision is what you are seeing on the sides when you are looking straight ahead. Macular degeneration never causes total blindness since it does not affect peripheral vision. When it comes to macular degeneration Washington DC residents need to be well-versed with it.
There are two types of the disease. The first type is dry macular degeneration which is the more common one affecting 85 percent of persons suffering from the disease. The cause is yellow deposits which are formed beneath the macular. That will finally cause damage to the retina and also vision loss. Wet macular degeneration on the other hand affects less people, about 15 percent. The cause is development of blood vessels under the retina and macular. The effect of the condition is that the person sees dark spots at the center of their vision. That is because of leaking of fluids or bleeding of vessels.
The condition is progressive and will get worse over time. You may even fail to notice problems with vision during early stages. Also, you may not notice vision change when the disease affects both of the eyes simultaneously. There are however general symptoms such as reduced central vision, blurred vision and problems recognizing faces of people. You will also experience problems adapting to very bright light.
The exact cause of macular degeneration has never been known. However, there are people who are at greater risk of developing it. It mostly affects people above 65 years, those who are Caucasian, people with cardiovascular disease and those who are overweight. You should schedule an annual eye examination to know whether you are suffering from it. The examination is important even for people who may feel their vision is normal. You should let the doctor know of any vision problems you could be experiencing.
There are a number of tests that can be conducted to know whether one has the condition. For instance, there could be the use of special eye drops for dilating eyes. After that, the back of the eyes is checked for any signs of blood, fluid or yellow deposits. The doctor will also ask you to look at a grid to test your central vision.
There is not any known cure for macular degeneration. The doctor can however recommend options to slow down its progress. In the case of the dry type, you should work closely with low vision rehabilitation professional. They will teach you different ways of adjusting with to the vision loss and how to cope. In some instances, there will be surgery. For the surgery, a telescopic lens will be implanted on your eyes so that field of vision is magnified.
In the case of wet macular degeneration, you need to closely work with eye specialists. There is medication which can be administered into the eyes to prevent any further growth of blood vessels. Outcome of treatment might take some weeks.
There are a number of ways to minimize risk of suffering from the disease. For those who smoke, it will be advisable to stop. You will also be advised to get plenty of exercises and eat healthy. It is always important to have diagnosis done early.
There are two types of the disease. The first type is dry macular degeneration which is the more common one affecting 85 percent of persons suffering from the disease. The cause is yellow deposits which are formed beneath the macular. That will finally cause damage to the retina and also vision loss. Wet macular degeneration on the other hand affects less people, about 15 percent. The cause is development of blood vessels under the retina and macular. The effect of the condition is that the person sees dark spots at the center of their vision. That is because of leaking of fluids or bleeding of vessels.
The condition is progressive and will get worse over time. You may even fail to notice problems with vision during early stages. Also, you may not notice vision change when the disease affects both of the eyes simultaneously. There are however general symptoms such as reduced central vision, blurred vision and problems recognizing faces of people. You will also experience problems adapting to very bright light.
The exact cause of macular degeneration has never been known. However, there are people who are at greater risk of developing it. It mostly affects people above 65 years, those who are Caucasian, people with cardiovascular disease and those who are overweight. You should schedule an annual eye examination to know whether you are suffering from it. The examination is important even for people who may feel their vision is normal. You should let the doctor know of any vision problems you could be experiencing.
There are a number of tests that can be conducted to know whether one has the condition. For instance, there could be the use of special eye drops for dilating eyes. After that, the back of the eyes is checked for any signs of blood, fluid or yellow deposits. The doctor will also ask you to look at a grid to test your central vision.
There is not any known cure for macular degeneration. The doctor can however recommend options to slow down its progress. In the case of the dry type, you should work closely with low vision rehabilitation professional. They will teach you different ways of adjusting with to the vision loss and how to cope. In some instances, there will be surgery. For the surgery, a telescopic lens will be implanted on your eyes so that field of vision is magnified.
In the case of wet macular degeneration, you need to closely work with eye specialists. There is medication which can be administered into the eyes to prevent any further growth of blood vessels. Outcome of treatment might take some weeks.
There are a number of ways to minimize risk of suffering from the disease. For those who smoke, it will be advisable to stop. You will also be advised to get plenty of exercises and eat healthy. It is always important to have diagnosis done early.
About the Author:
You can find details about the benefits you get when you consult a macular degeneration Washington DC specialist at http://www.bethesdaretina.com/services today.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire