Treatment for Macular Degeneration at Romanoff Vision
As we get older, we inevitably face elevated risks for certain health conditions, from hypertension to cancer. The eyes become more susceptible to diseases and disorders as well. One age-related threat to your vision takes the form of macular degeneration, a progressive problem that can make you legally blind unless you get it attended to early. Here at Romanoff Vision in Sylvania, we can watch your eyes for signs of macular degeneration, advise you on lifestyle practices to reduce your risk of getting it, and recommend treatment measures to keep it from wreaking havoc on your eyesight.
What Is Macular Degeneration?
The retina of the eye is lined with light-sensitive cells which transmit visual data to the optic nerves for processing by the brain. A part of the retina known as the macula is tasked with receiving and relaying the data that makes up your central field of vision. Damage to the macula may cause you to view straight lines as jagged lines or to see blank areas where text, objects, and faces should be. These are the kinds of symptoms you experience in macular degeneration. Although macular degeneration doesn't cause total blindness, it can make you unable to read, drive, or use anything but your peripheral vision.
Macular degeneration is often called AMD (age-related macular degeneration) because it usually manifests in your 50s and 60s. Most AMD sufferers have an earlier, milder stage of the disorder called "dry" macular degeneration. In this condition, particles called drusen start to accumulate on the macula, and vision may or may not be affected. A minority of sufferers will eventually develop "wet" macular degeneration. In this condition, abnormal, weak-walled blood vessels form. These blood vessels leak blood under the macula, dramatically worsening vision.
Vision-Saving Strategies from Our Sylvania Eye Doctor
Our Sylvania eye doctor can check for macular degeneration and other retinal problems during a comprehensive eye exam. If you're showing early stages of this disorder, we can recommend lifestyle changes such as nutritional supplementation and the use of lenses that block blue light (a possible factor in AMD). The wet form of AMD can be controlled by medications that prevent abnormal blood vessels from proliferating. Our eye doctor may recommend additional treatment techniques such as photodynamic therapy to seal off leaky blood vessels and the damage they cause.
Protect Yourself Against Macular Degeneration by Calling Our Clinic Today
The most important thing you can do in the fight against macular degeneration is watch out for the disease so you can receive immediate treatment. Call our Sylvania clinic today at (419) 885-5556 to schedule a comprehensive eye exam!
