Undergoing Treatment for Macular Degeneration Disorder

Undergoing Treatment for Macular Degeneration Disorder

Jan 01, 2021

Macular degeneration is an eye disorder that occurs as your age advances. It causes reduced central vision but doesn’t affect your peripheral vision. It would be ideal for visiting our eye facility at Premier Eye Care before your vision becomes severe. The severity of the disease is rapid and can lead to vision loss in both eyes. A blank spot develops in your central vision, and the blurred area grows larger. Some objects may not appear brighter than they used to be due to progressive disorder. You need to visit the optometrist near you and undergo an urgent treatment plan before your vision worsens.

What’s Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disorder that leads to permanent vision loss for seniors if it’s untreated. It develops when your central part of your retina, called the macula, deteriorates. The disorder can lead to severe visual complications, and you need to undergo macular degeneration treatment. Various risk factors cause AMD, including:

  • Having cardiovascular complications
  • Smoking
  • Aging
  • Being overweight
  • Having a family history of AMD

There are two types of AMD based on the associated cause and symptoms, and they include:

  • Dry macular degeneration disease occurs due deposition of yellow deposits under your macula. The disorder causes your retina to lose vision.
  • The development of abnormal blood vessels beneath your retina causes wet macular degeneration. You are likely to see a dark spot in your central vision due to bleeding of your blood vessels or leaking fluid.

Macular Degeneration Symptoms

Macular degeneration progresses with time if untreated. You may experience vision problems during the initial stages of the disease. Some of the symptoms associated with dry AMD disease include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Reduced central vision
  • Distorted lines in your vision
  • Difficulty while adapting to low lights
  • Need for brighter lighting

Wet AMD has some similar symptoms with those of dry macular degeneration, including reduced central vision and visual distortions, and you may also experience:

  • Hazy vision
  • A blurry spot in your vision
  • Poor vision

Both Wet and dry AMD disorders don’t affect your peripheral vision, and seeking early macular degeneration treatment can prevent vision loss.

AMD Diagnosis

It would be ideal to visit your Calgary optometrist routinely to ensure you undergo diagnostic tests that indicate your vision changes. During your appointments, your eye specialist will perform various tests to diagnose AMD disorder. Specialized approaches are used to dilate your eyes and check for any signs of blood, or yellow deposits. Your doctor can check on your central visual field. Faint or broken lines on your visual field may indicate you have an AMD disorder. Once you’ve been diagnosed with the disease, your specialist will determine the viable option for your treatment.

Treatment Options for Macular Degeneration

There’s no cure for macular degeneration, but your ophthalmologist can use some preventive approaches to slow down its progression and minimize vision loss. Below are the treatment options for both dry and wet macular degeneration.

Treating Dry Macular Degeneration

If you have dry AMD disease, your specialist may advise you to undertake low vision rehabilitation. The approach is vital in coping with vision loss. Our Calgary optometrist may recommend you to undergo surgery to improve your vision. During the surgical procedure, a lens will be implanted on your affected eye and enhance your imaging by magnification.

Treating Wet Macular Degeneration

While undergoing treatment for macular degeneration in Calgary, AB, your specialist can directly administer medication into your eyes to halt the growth of new blood vessels. Low vision rehabilitation can also apply in wet AMD treatment. Photo-dynamic therapy through specialized lasers can be used to close up your leaking blood vessels. The procedure is extensive and requires several appointments. High-energy laser beams can be applied to destroy abnormal blood vessels to prevent further damage and stop bleeding.

Vital Tips on How to Prevent AMD

You can lessen the potential risk of having macular degeneration by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Here are some essential tips you can embrace to prevent your eyes from the disease:

  • Maintain a healthy dietary lifestyle
  • Avoid smoking
  • Maintain an ideal body mass index
  • Undergo regular physical exercises

Early diagnosis for eye disorder can be made through eye exams. You can slow its progression by seeking early treatment from the optometrist near you. Having undergone macular degeneration treatment in Calgary, AB minimizes vision loss and ensures your visual capability is prolonged. Please make an appointment with our specialists and find the optimal treatment for your eye condition today.

Seton
Mahogany
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