Macular Degeneration Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment at Eye Care of Virginia

Eye diseases and disorders exist on different levels of seriousness — some problems are transient in nature and easy to resolve completely, while others can lead to irreversible vision loss and blindness if they’re allowed to go unchecked. Macular degeneration is one of the most serious threats to your eyesight, which is why you need to watch out for it and get the necessary treatment for it as soon as it can be detected. Eye Care of Virginia can help King George and Culpeper residents safeguard their eyes against this disease.

What You Should Know About Macular Degeneration

Maculae degeneration gets its name from a small segment of the retina known as the macula. This retinal tissue is tasked with capturing information about your center of vision for relaying to the brain’s vision center. When the macula becomes damaged or diseased, it can fail to do its job correctly, leaving you with wavy lines or even large empty spots in your central visual field. As you can imagine, this makes most everyday tasks extraordinarily difficult or even impossible, even if your peripheral vision remains untouched.

Macular degeneration can take either of two primary forms. “Dry” macular degeneration is the early, more common stage of the disease, in which tiny particles called drusen collect on the macula. “Wet” macular degeneration, the more advanced stage, involves the rapid growth of abnormal blood vessels which then leak into the eye tissues, causing a dramatic worsening of vision.

You may macular degeneration referred to as AMD or age-related macular degeneration. That’s because most sufferers from this disease begin to experience as they approach their 60s. It’s believed that smoking, poor diet, UV rays, and exposure to blue light (such as the blue light produced by LED screens) may be factors in its development (along with genetics).

Diagnosis and Treatment Recommendations From Our Optometrist

Our optometrist can provide you with your first line of defense against macular degeneration: regular eye exams. A comprehensive eye exam that includes retinal evaluation and vision testing lets us detect macular degeneration in its earliest forms. we can then prescribe dietary changes (including a nutritional protocol called AREDS2), protective eyewear, and lifestyle adjustments to minimize the disease’s progress. If you require additional treatment, we may recommend that you receive medications to stop the growth of abnormal blood vessels, or even laser treatment from an eye surgeon to seal bleeding vessels.

Schedule Preventative Care in Culpeper or King George

Remember, early detection is critical in your fight against macular degeneration. Call our Culpeper or King George office to schedule a comprehensive eye exam!