Noticing Changes in Your Vision? It Could Be AMD
There’s no way to sugar-coat it—our risk for vision problems increases as we get older from age-related eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy. It’s imperative, then, to keep a close “eye” on your eyes, especially if you’re over 50.
One of the more serious of these conditions is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This eye disease causes damage to the macula, a cluster of special cells in the retina that provides detail within the center of our vision.
More than 19 million Americans have some form of AMD, which without intervention could lead to low vision (impaired vision that can’t be corrected with glasses) or blindness. That’s why Hattiesburg Eye Clinic and many other eyecare providers nationwide recognize February as Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month to call attention to this serious eye disease.
Those in the early stages of AMD may not notice anything abnormal about their vision. But over time, a number of symptoms may emerge like difficulty reading, objects appearing distorted or blurred, or trouble making out details or seeing a blind spot in the center of their vision.
Without intervention, these and other symptoms may become more pronounced over time. What’s more, this damage could be permanent.
Although there’s no cure for AMD, there are ways to try minimizing its effect. As with most progressive eye diseases, it’s important to get as early a diagnosis as possible to better your odds at preserving your vision.
Early signs of AMD can be detected during a routine eye exam, followed by a number of tests that can confirm the diagnosis. For this reason, Hattiesburg Eye Clinic doctors recommend that everyone begin annual eye exams by at least age 40.
Although we don’t know the root causes for AMD, doctors have identified a number of risk factors related to the disease. Some are beyond a person’s control: women are at slightly greater risk than men, as are Caucasians than other racial groups. Age, especially for those over 65, is a factor, as is a family history of the disease.
But there are other risk factors connected to lifestyle choices and behavior, like smoking, eating a poor diet, or long-term sun exposure. AMD also appears more prevalent in those with chronic diseases like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. So, making positive life changes and taking care of your overall health may help lower your risk.
Nutritional diets and supplements have become an important area of research toward preventing or slowing AMD. The most important of these are antioxidants, substances that protect the body from certain molecules called free radicals. For eye health, consuming antioxidants called carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin, in particular) seems particularly encouraging in protecting against AMD. You can include carotenoids in your diet by eating vegetables like kale, raw spinach, or collard greens, or by taking nutritional supplements that include these and other antioxidants.
For those at later stages of AMD, there are a few interventions to help slow its progression, especially with a form of the disease known as wet macular degeneration. This form happens when abnormal or leaking blood vessels grow within the macula, as opposed to the other form, dry macular degeneration, where the macular tissues thin or degrade slowly over time and may form yellowy deposits called drusen.
Wet AMD is not as prevalent as the dry form, but it can lead to rapid vision loss. To help reduce abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage, a retinal specialist can inject certain drugs like Lucentis, Eylea, or Vabysmo into the eye, which block a protein that stimulates blood vessel growth called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
Unfortunately, most cases of AMD eventually result in some visual impairment. In such cases, a person may find a number of low vision aids to be helpful. These run the gamut, from simple magnifying glasses to sophisticated video and computer systems that enlarge pages for reading. You can also use large-print or audio books, “talking” clocks or scales, or a host of other aids to help you maintain your lifestyle.
The best prognosis for AMD begins with getting as early a start as possible in diagnosing the condition through regular yearly eye exams around age 40, or earlier if you have a family history. And if you’re already noticing changes in your eyesight, especially in the center of your vision, see your eye care provider as soon as possible.
To learn more about age-related macular degeneration and its treatment options, be sure to visit our website. To find out how Hattiesburg Eye Clinic can improve your vision health, call 601-268-5910 (or toll-free 800-624-8254) or schedule a consultation with us at www.hattiesburgeyeclinic.com/contact-us/
