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Symptoms, Risk Factors of Macular Degeneration & Treatment

Macular degeneration signs and symptoms

In most cases, when Macular degeneration occurs it is a slower and is not accompanied by pain. Some people in Northern Colorado experiencing the beginning stages of Macular Degeneration may see shadowy areas in their central line of vision or they might have unusually fuzzy or distorted sight. For very few people here in Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley, it may result in a sudden loss of their central line of sight.

An eyecare practitioner usually can detect early signs of macular degeneration before symptoms occur. Usually this is accomplished through a retinal examination.

What causes macular degeneration?

There is some research that points to a gene deficiency which might be connected to about 50% of all potentially blinding cases of macular degeneration.

There are many forms of macular degeneration that seem to be connected to the aging process and the subsequent decline of eye tissue that is critical to good vision.

Who gets macular degeneration?

Macular Degeneration affects many people including the residents of Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley. There are a few groups of people that seem to be more prone to getting the disease than others; the elderly, caucasians, females, it looks like the disease can be passed down through families and can also be a debilitating side effect of some forms of drugs or medications.

There are some researchers who now believe that overexposure to the sun’s UV rays may be a contributing factor in the formation of macular degeneration, and that a diet which includes large amounts of fat also may be a danger.There is also new research that strongly indicates that smoking could be a high on the list of contributing hazard for macular degeneration. Additional risk factors for macular degeneration include; high blood pressure, lighter eye color and obesity.

How is macular degeneration treated?

There are no FDA-approved medical treatments for dry macular degeneration. Many now believe that nutritional intervention (maintaining a healthy diet) may be very valuable in halting its progression to the more advanced, wet form.

There are however, several FDA-approved medications that are focused on delaying the abnormal blood vessel growth and vision loss from the wet form of the disease. For some people in Northern Colorado, laser treatment of the retina might be suggested as a treatment option. It is always best to ask your eye doctor for the details on the medical treatment options for wet macular degeneration.

Testing and low vision devices

Even though there has been a large amount of advancement recently in the treatment of macular degeneration and it’s research, the total recovery of vision is probably is unlikely. Your eye doctor here in Loveland, Fort Collins or Greeley might have you monitor your vision with an Amsler grid – a small chart of thin black lines arranged in a grid pattern. Macular degeneration causes the line on the grid to appear wavy, distorted or broken. The viewing of the Amsler grid separately with each eye can help you keep track of your vision loss.

If you are already experiencing loss of vision from macular degeneration, there are low vision devices that may help you get better vision results than a pair of prescriptions eyeglasses would. These devices include: high magnification reading glasses and hand-held telescopes.

For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please call 970-204-4020 or click on the link on the side of the page.

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