Macular Degeneration Specialist

What is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration affects the center-most portion of your retina. This central area of your eye is responsible for focusing, allowing for clarity of vision that lets you see and recognize faces, colors, and objects in detail. The degeneration of this portion of your eye (the macula) means it can no longer capture images correctly.

There are two main types of macular degeneration, dry and wet:

1. Dry Macular Degeneration: Dry macular degeneration is slowly progressive and the more commonly occurring type of macular degeneration (around 85-90% of cases). It causes yellow-colored deposits to collect on your macula, causing it to slowly thin and dry out.
2. Wet Macular Degeneration: The wet type is less common (10-15% of cases) and often more serious. Wet macular degeneration occurs when blood vessels that grow in the wrong area of the eye leak and bulge, causing damage to the macula.

When this painless disorder progresses and is left untreated, it causes permanent vision loss, making it imperative that you get treatment as soon as possible from the team at VistaSite Eye Care if you suffer from macular degeneration.

What are the Symptoms of Macular Degeneration?

This disorder does not cause pain and often goes undetected until you’ve already started experiencing vision loss. This is why regular comprehensive eye exams are so important.

With a routine eye exam, your optometrist at VistaSite Eye Care can detect deposits or other issues with your macula early on. A comprehensive eye exam provides a better view of the blood vessels in the macula and its degeneration before vision loss has occurred.

In the later stages of the condition, you may notice loss of vision, starting with a dark area in the center of your vision. You may feel your vision is dark, or that you need more light to see. This will likely worsen, especially without treatment.

Who is Most at Risk for Macular Degeneration?

Aging is the most significant contributing factor to macular disease, with those over age 55 being at greatest risk. Some other significant risk factors for this condition include:

• Family history of macular degeneration
• Being Caucasian
• Smoking

There is currently no treatment for macular degeneration. You can lower your risk significantly by eating healthy, exercising, not smoking, protecting your eyes from the sun, and getting regular eye exams.

The experts at VistaSite Eye Care identify your risks and create a specialized plan of care that either prevents or slows the progression of macular degeneration. To schedule your eye exam, call or book your appointment online today.