Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a problem with your retina. AMD happens when a part of the retina called the macula is damaged. AMD causes you to lose central vision. You are restricted from looking at something with fine details close or far.
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With AMD dark areas may appear in your central vision. Your peripheral (side) vision will still be normal. For instance, imagine you are picturing a clock face where the numbers are visible but the hands, you are unable to see. AMD is very common. It is the leading cause of vision loss in people 50 years or older.
Dry AMD VS. Wet AMD
Dry AMD: Dry AMD is quite common. People who have dry AMD, their macula starts by getting thinner with age causing clumps of protein called drusen to grow. You slowly lose central vision. There is no way to treat dry AMD yet.
Wet AMD: Wet AMD is less common but overall more serious. Its essentially new abnormal blood vessels growing under the retina. The vessels may leak blood or other fluids causing the macula to scar.
TREATMENT
DRY AMD: Right now, there is no way to treat the dry form of AMD. However, there are some beneficial nutritional supplements that may slow down dry AMD by taking them daily.
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Vitamin C
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Vitamin E
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Lutein
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Zeaxanthin
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Zinc
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Copper
Your ophthalmologist can tell you if vitamins and minerals are recommended for your dry AMD.
Wet AMD: There is a medication called anti-VEGF drugs. Anti-VEGF treatment helps reduce the number of abnormal blood vessels in your retina. Also, it slows any leaking from blood vessels, the medicine is delivered to your eye through a very slender needle. Laser surgery may also be used to treat some type of wet AMD. This consists of your eye surgeon shining a laser light bean on the abnormal blood vessels reducing the number of vessels and slows their leaking.
It is important to see our ophthalmologist regularly to check for eye and vision changes. If you have any questions about your vision, speak with your ophthalmologist. He or she is committed to protecting your sight!!
