Macular degeneration is a disease that damages the part of the eye that controls central vision. While it doesn’t cause complete blindness, it can result in an irreversible loss of vision that can make reading, driving, or performing detailed-oriented work difficult. Collins Eye Center provides high-tech eyecare for patients and helps treat eye diseases, including macular degeneration. Here are some other ways an eye doctor might help patients manage early macular degeneration:
Regular Eye Exams
Getting an annual eye exam allows optometrists to fully assess your eye health, vision, and detect early signs of macular degeneration. There are two types of age-related macular degeneration or AMD: wet and dry. Dry age-related macular degeneration progresses slowly, causing gradual vision loss. Wet AMD causes rapid vision loss and can be detected early during a vision exam. The eye doctors at Collins Eye Center will fully assess your vision and develop customized treatment plans based on your eye health. Your exam might include:
- Visual acuity test. During this test, to check your central vision, one eye is covered while you read letters on a wall chart. Since central vision worsens with age-related machine degeneration, this measures if your vision has worsened since your last test.
- Ophthalmoscopy. An eye doctor will check inside your eye for drusen – yellowish white spots that are a sign of AMD.
- Amsler grid test. Used to detect wet age-related macular degeneration. You’ll look at lines on a grid to determine if they appear wavy instead of straight or curved.
Lifestyle Modifications
For early age-related macular degeneration, your optometrist will likely monitor its progress and suggest specific lifestyle modifications to help treat it. Healthy eating, regular exercise, and not smoking can help slow its progress. For wet macular degeneration, certain vitamin and mineral supplements may help slow any vision loss. These include vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and copper. Eye doctors at Collins Eye Center will offer other tips and suggestions for slowing AMD, like wearing UV-protection sunglasses or limiting saturated fats in your diet. Additional low-vision lifestyle accommodations include using lamps even during daylight hours, reading large-print books, or reading with a magnifying glass.
Medical Treatments
There are currently no treatment options for early macular degeneration. Wet age-related macular degeneration can progress quickly, and medical treatment may be necessary. Options include injections into the eye or photodynamic therapy, a combination of injections and laser therapy. Anti-VEGF injections are administered once a month to reduce bleeding and fluid leakage from blood vessels in your eye, helping to reduce vision loss. Collins Eye Center has the skills and expertise to manage an AMD diagnosis.
When to Visit an Eye Doctor for Macular Degeneration
Early detection of age-related macular degeneration can slow the disease’s progress and preserve your vision. Regular eye exams can detect AMD, but make an additional appointment with an eye doctor if you notice blurry spots in the center of your vision or any sudden vision changes. Collins Eye Center has a team of eye-care experts to handle all your eye-care needs, including age-related macular degeneration. Learn more about our services and schedule an appointment today.
