Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degradation of the central vision caused by damage to the macula, a part of the retina. AMD is a progressive eye condition and there are two main types, wet and dry AMD.

AMD is fairly common in people over the age of 60. In fact, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss among Americans in this age group.

Eye exams are very important for early detection of macular degeneration. If you do have AMD, we can regularly monitor your condition and the progression of the disease. We can devise and adjust treatment plans and help you manage symptoms.

Treatments

There are several treatment options for macular degeneration. The preferred treatment depends on the type of AMD you have and its severity. Our eye care professionals work closely with each patient to develop a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs.

Dry AMD cannot be cured but several measures can keep the condition in check. We recommend nutritional supplements that can slow the progression and may also recommend certain lifestyle changes. Good diet is important to support eye health; we recommend eating a balanced diet rich in green leafy vegetables, fruits, and fish.

We usually also recommend vision aids like magnifiers and other devices that can enhance vision. These aids are particularly helpful for individuals with significant vision loss due to dry AMD.

Wet AMD is treated differently. The key for the treatment is to stop the abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. These blood vessels leak fluid underneath the retina and that can cause rapid and severe vision loss. Our wet AMD treatments inhibit the blood vessel growth; treatments include laser therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and eye injections.

Give us a call

If you are experiencing blurred vision, difficulty reading, difficulty recognizing faces or a dark area in your central vision, you may have AMD. Many of our patients need a much brighter light to form activities like reading, writing or using electronic devices.

In the early stages, AMD usually has no obvious symptoms, so AMD is easy to overlook. We recommend regular eye exams always, but particularly for individuals over age 50, so that we can better detect age-related macular degeneration.

We’ll tailor a treatment plan just for you. Remember — AMD or age-related macular degeneration is a fairly common eye condition in people over the age of 60. If it has been a while since you’ve had an eye exam, or if you suspect you have macular degeneration, make an appointment with us today at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania.

When you come in, we will perform a dilated eye exam which allows our doctors to better see the eye structures. We will also take images of the eye using optical coherence tomography (OCT), an imaging technique that takes detailed images of the back of your eye, including the retina and macula. This imaging requires you to simply look into a lens, and it is non-invasive and not painful. We hope you will come see us soon. We have several convenient locations in the Pennsylvania area. We’re here to meet all your eye care needs.