Macular degeneration usually occurs in older adults who are at the age of 60 years of age or older. Macular degeneration is an eye disorder that affects and damages the center of the retina of the eye and makes it hard for the person to see fine details. Although signs of macular degeneration may not at first be present, the first sign of dry macular degeneration is blurred vision. Colors of objects may look to be faded, dim and distorted which is coming from the central vision of the eye. Complete vision is not lost as macular degeneration only affects the center vision. Side, or peripheral view is not affected and macular degeneration is not painful. People with macular degeneration may experience difficulty reading fine print. Wet macular degeneration will have signs of wavy and/or distorted lines that are normally straight.
In later stages of macular degeneration, a person may not be able to recognize other people’s faces unless they are close up and the blurred vision or spot may over time become larger and darker. There are no treatments for dry macular degeneration but treatments for wet macular degeneration include: Laser surgery, medication that slow the progress of formation of new blood vessels in the eye and photodynamic therapy. Although there are treatments for wet macular degeneration, there is no cure. There is, however, things you can do for dry macular degeneration that may help. They include taking vitamins, antioxidants and zinc. Some of the vitamins that you can take in this combination are: Vitamin C (500mg), Beta Carotene (400 IU), Zinc (80 mg) and Copper (2mg).
Macular degeneration is often referred to as age macular degeneration as it does occur in people over the age of 60. People who are at risk for macular degeneration are often those who smoke, have a hereditary history, who are females and are of the Caucasian race. You may want to get tested for macular degeneration if you start seeing blurred vision and if you have not had a recent eye exam and especially if you are over the age of 60. Drops are used to dilate the pupils during a doctor’s visit as well as a special lens for the doctor to view the retina and optic nerve to determine if there are any yellow deposits on the membrane or changes in the blood vessels.
With dry macular degeneration, people will not have a central vision loss, however, people with wet macular degeneration will experience vision loss. Macular degeneration may cause difficulty in reading fine print and recognizing people from far away, but it hardly leads to total blindness. Daily routines such as bathing, eating, walking and house chores are not usually affected with anyone having macular degeneration. If you feel that you are experiencing any of the above signs, consult your doctor immediately for the appropriate care to prevent any further damage to the eye. Your doctor will perform the necessary tests to determine if macular degeneration is present.
