Macular Degeneration Doctors in Reading, PA

If you are over age 60, you may be at risk for macular degeneration. AMD or age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss among Americans in this age group. AMD is caused when the retina and the macula become damaged. These structures enable you to see fine detail like book print. The macular damage means that central vision is not sharp because it cannot correctly process the light signals. As a result, vision becomes blurry or distorted. If you have any of these symptoms, or are over 60 and have not had an eye exam in a while, Reading PA residents can see our macular degeneration doctors in nearby Blandon at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania.

Tell me more about AMD

There are two forms of AMD, dry and wet. Dry AMD is by far the most common form, with about 90% of AMD cases falling into this category. In its early stages, dry AMD usually has no symptoms. Over time, you may need more light for reading. Once you see a blurred spot in the center of your vision, you have likely progressed to the intermediate stage of AMD.

Wet AMD is rare but more serious; it is an advanced form of the disease and causes permanent macular damage and serious vision loss.

Risk factors for both forms of AMD are age, being a smoker, obesity, family history of the disease, and hypertension. Caucasians are more likely to have AMD, as are women. People with one or more risk factors for AMD are highly encouraged to schedule an eye exam if you haven’t recently had one. If straight lines appear wavy, this could indicate an early symptom of wet AMD, so contact us right away since loss of central vision usually occurs very rapidly with wet AMD.

What tests are performed?

If you have or suspect you have AMD, seek professional eye care. Our team will conduct a comprehensive dilated eye exam that includes a dilated eye exam, visual acuity tests, and imaging to more closely examine the eye structures.

Using a standard eye chart with letters and numbers we will conduct the visual acuity test. We also use an Amsler grid test to look for changes in central vision. The dilated eye exam is important so that the eye care professional can obtain a better view of the retina and macula. We look for yellow deposits called drusen, which are protein deposits that indicate the presence of AMD.

We use an imaging technique called optical coherence tomography (OCT) to provide high-resolution pictures of the retina and macula. If we suspect wet AMD, we may perform a test called a fluorescein angiogram which uses a dye to highlight the blood vessels. As the dye moves through the vessels, we take pictures to detect blood vessel leakage which is the cause of the wet form of the disease.

Reading PA, our macular degeneration doctors are in nearby Blandon and are ready to see you, so if you suspect you have macular degeneration, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with the retinal specialists at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania.