Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Chicago, Illinois
What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
Macular degeneration is when the layer under the retina is disturbed by deposits called drusen or other changes such as added pigmentation. The retina is the like the film in the camera of the eye and translates images viewed in to electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. The macula is the portion of the retina that is used for your best vision. These age related changes below the retina may cause vision to decrease. When aging changes affect the macula, you may lose your central vision, but you will not lose your peripheral or side vision. The most common form of macular degeneration is dry form, in which drusen and pigmentary changes causes thinning of the macula. With dry macular degeneration, vision loss is usually gradual and rarely severe. Wet macular degeneration is when new blood vessels develop under the retina. These vessels leak blood and fluid blurring central vision and causing swelling of the macular with rapid and severe vision loss.
What are the symptoms of AMD?
Early macular degeneration may have little effect on vision and may affect only one eye. Straight lines may look curved. When reading, words may look blurred and at its end stage, it may be difficult to recognize faces and there may be a hole in the center of vision.
Open angle glaucoma is usually treated first with eye drops. Laser procedures and surgery may also be helpful. Closed angle glaucoma always require a surgical procedure either open surgery or more commonly performed with a laser.
How is AMD diagnosed?
Diagnosis of macular degeneration is made during a dilated eye examination by your eye doctor and he may have you monitor your vision by looking at straight lines on a daily basis.
How is AMD treated?
There is no treatment for macular degeneration, although studies suggest that AREDS formula vitamins may help prevent vision loss. For wet macular degeneration, there are a range of new treatment options include thermal laser therapy, photodynamic therapy, steroid therapy, and anti-VEGF treatment. It is best to prevent macular degeneration. The biggest preventable risk factor for macular degeneration is smoking cigarettes. If you smoke, stop now. If you haven’t started don’t. If you have a family history of macular degeneration, use AREDS formula vitamins twice a day.
What happens if I lose vision due to AMD?
As a worst case scenario, those with macular degeneration never are completely blind. Instead they lose central vision and the use of low-vision training, people can learn to use their peripheral vision in order to remain visually active.
If you are interested in treatment or have questions about this procedure and are in the Chicago, Illinois area, please contact the experienced eye surgeons at the office of Doctors For Visual Freedom today.
Two Locations:
Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center
875 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1550
Chicago, IL 60611 | Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center
2010 S Arlington Heights Rd, Suite 121
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 |
