Macular Degeneration Management
Macular Degeneration Management
A leading cause of blindness in those over age 65 is macular degeneration. A full cure has not been discovered, but there are proven treatment options that can prevent the disease from progressing and, in some cases, may improve vision.
The doctors and the vision care professionals at Total Vision Centers, located in Springboro, want to educate their patients, current and new, about the management of macular degeneration.
Dry Macular Degeneration
This form is the most common and the less aggressive as the progress is slow and the damage less severe. It is important to maintain annual eye examinations with your optometrist as dry macular degeneration is detected during a routine exam. Usually, treating this less aggressive form involves high doses of zinc and antioxidants.
Wet Macular Degeneration
This type is the severe form and the treatments are invasive. With wet macular degeneration, there is the abnormal growth of blood vessels, the leakage of these vessels and the development of scar tissue. The treatments can include laser surgery, the injection of light-sensitive dyes and/or medication injected directly into the eyes to inhibit the growth of the abnormal vessels.
The Symptoms
The main symptom of macular degeneration is the slow loss of vision in the central part of the eye. Both the wet and dry forms of this disease affect the central portion of the retina. This is the light-sensitive section located at the back of the eye where imaged are processed. It is this part of the eye that is responsible for sight.
The Statistics
There are various risk factors associated with this eye disease like smoking, over-exposure to ultra-violet rays and obesity. Statistically, Caucasians are at a significantly greater risk than African Americans for contracting macular degeneration. Genetically, this disease affects women in greater numbers than men.
Overall, there is no cure or outright prevention of macular degeneration other than living a healthy lifestyle and maintaining regular eye examinations. The best one can do is to detect the disease early and follow the instructions of your optometrist to manage the progress of the disease.
If you would like a consultation on macular degeneration, as well as other diseases and conditions that affect the eyes, then please contact the eye care professionals at Total Vision Centers, located in Springboro, where new patients are always welcome.