Macular Degeneration

If you develop vision changes or blind spots, it’s important to see an eye specialist at Optic Gallery South Meadows in Reno, Nevada. Exceptional optometrist Warren Whitley, OD, perform screenings for macular degeneration and other eye diseases that can lead to vision loss when left untreated. Call the office to schedule an eye exam.

What is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration is an eye disease that can cause vision impairment, especially among people 50 and older, when not addressed. It may affect your ability to see fine details and your central vision. In its early stage, you might not have any symptoms, but routine eye exams can detect the problem.

What are the types of macular degeneration?

Two common forms of macular degeneration are:

Dry macular degeneration

Dry macular degeneration is the more common type, affecting about 80% of people with age-related macular degeneration. Light-sensitive parts of the macula in your eye start to break down, usually one eye at a time.

Wet macular degeneration

While the wet form of macular degeneration is less common, it can lead to more significant vision loss. Wet macular degeneration appears when abnormal blood vessels leak fluid and blood.

What are the common symptoms of macular degeneration?

The common symptoms of age-related macular degeneration are:

• Diminished central vision
• Dark or blind spots
• Blurry vision
• Problems recognizing faces
• Difficulty reading or driving
• Seeing straight lines as wavy

Having yellow deposits in your retina is an early sign of macular degeneration. Your optometrist can see such deposits during a routine eye exam. 

What increases the risk of macular degeneration?

The following risk factors increase your risk of developing macular degeneration:

• Family history of macular degeneration 
• Being 50 or older
• Smoking
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Excess body weight
• Diets rich in saturated fat
• Heart disease

Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the best ways to reduce the chance of developing macular degeneration, but you can’t necessarily avoid it.

How does my optometrist diagnose macular degeneration?

To determine if you have macular degeneration, an Optic Gallery South Meadows specialist discusses your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical history. During vision testing, you read from an eye chart to test your vision at a distance and look through lenses to assess near vision. 

Your eye care provider completes a dilated eye exam using a lighted magnifier and offers imagining procedures with dye to detect leaking blood vessels. Your optometrist may have you look at a checkerboard grid and ask if straight lines appear wavy.

What are the macular degeneration treatments?

The treatment for macular degeneration depends on its type and severity. Your Optic Gallery South Meadows specialist might recommend one or more of the following:

• Healthy lifestyle habits
• Vision rehabilitation
• Vitamin supplements
• Low-vision devices
• Laser therapy
• Injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
• Eye procedures

They tailor a treatment that matches your needs and can refer you to another specialist if you require eye surgery.

Call the Optic Gallery South Meadows office to schedule a macular degeneration screening today.