Macular Degeneration
Peoria and Bloomington, Illinois
Macular degeneration is a condition in which the center of the inner lining of the retina (the macula) suffers thinning, atrophy, or bleeding. This often results in the loss of central vision, including the ability to see fine details, read, and recognize faces. Macular degeneration affects both distance and close vision, and can make some activities like threading a needle or reading difficult or impossible. It is the leading cause of central vision loss in the U.S. today for those over the age of fifty.
Although macular degeneration reduces vision in the central part of the retina, it does not affect peripheral vision. For example, you could see the outline of a clock very clearly but not be able to see what time it is.
Macular degeneration alone does not result in total blindness. People continue to have some useful vision and are usually able to take care of themselves.
Symptoms
- Blurred vision - onset of blurred vision varies depending on the type of macular degeneration. May be very gradual or very rapid
- Shadows or missing areas of vision
- Distorted vision - straight lines appear wavy and sections of a grid may appear blank. Patients often notice this the first time when looking at mini-blinds in their home
- Problems with color differentiation - particularly dark colors from other dark colors and light colors from other light colors
- Slow visual recovery after exposure to bright light
Types and causes
Many older people develop macular degeneration as part of the body's natural aging process. The two most common types of age-related macular degeneration are "dry" (atrophic) and "wet" (exudative).
Dry macular degeneration is by far the most common, caused by the aging and thinning of the tissues of the macula. Vision loss is usually gradual. Wet macular degeneration accounts for about 10 percent of all cases. It is caused by the formation of abnormal blood vessels at the back of the eye. These new blood vessels leak fluid or blood and blur central vision. Vision loss may be rapid and severe with this form.
Treatment
There is no cure for dry macular degeneration. Nutritional supplements may slow its progression, although this has not yet been clinically proven. Treatment of this condition focuses on helping a person find ways to cope with visual impairment.
Wet macular degeneration can be treated with laser surgery if detected in its early stages. Laser surgery can seal the leaking blood vessels that damage the macula. Although a small, permanently dark "blind spot" is left at the point of laser contact, the procedure can preserve more sight overall.
If you live in Central Illinois and are experiencing some of the aforementioned symptoms, or have a family history of macular degeneration, please contact us today to arrange a comprehensive eye exam.