Macular Degeneration Specialist Lebanon, PA

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that affects people over the age of 50. It is the leading cause of vision loss for this age group. If you’re over 50, come see our macular degeneration specialist in Lebanon PA at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania. We offer you the best possible care for your eyes.

What Is Macular Degeneration?

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition that affects the macula, which is the part of the retina that allows you to see fine detail to read or drive. There are two forms – wet and dry.

Macular degeneration leads to a loss of central vision because the retina becomes damaged. To prevent rapid degradation of your vision, we must detect and treat AMD at the earliest possible stage.

The most common form is dry AMD. In fact, nearly all (90 percent) cases of AMD are the dry form of the disease, which happens when drusen deposits form around the macula and subsequently cloud your vision. We use high-resolution imaging to detect these drusen formations to get you early treatment.

Wet AMD is a much rarer form of the disease. It is also a more advanced form associated with much more severe vision loss. Blood vessels near the retina leak and cause permanent damage to the light-sensitive portion of the retina. The “blind spot” that is characteristic of AMD then forms.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Our expert team will perform a comprehensive eye exam and vision evaluation. First, we dilate your eyes and perform a visual acuity test. We typically use these two tests to diagnose AMD and determine whether you have the wet or dry form. We will then recommend treatment strategies designed to prevent further vision loss. We will work hard to intervene and preserve your remaining vision.

Dry AMD – Currently, there is no form of medical treatment for dry AMD that can prevent vision loss. Studies by the National Eye Institute have indicated that taking certain vitamins and minerals might reduce the risk of developing advanced AMD.

Wet AMD – This more serious, and less common, form of AMD can be treated with laser surgery, photodynamic therapy (PDT) with or without injection of steroids into the eye, and the painless injection of drugs that attempt to stop abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. However, the disease and loss of vision may still progress even with treatment.

Why Choose Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania?

At Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, we have a macular degeneration center of excellence. This center’s staff includes eye care professionals, ophthalmologists and nationally recognized eye surgeons who have trained on the latest diagnostic and surgical techniques.

Our doctors have been trained at some of the world’s finest medical facilities, including Scheie Eye Institute, Washington Hospital Center, Duke Eye Center and the Penn Medicine Hospital. We offer state-of-the-art macular degeneration treatment and care in Lebanon and in several other convenient Pennsylvania locations.

If you suspect you have AMD based on your symptoms, come in for a consultation. It is important to remember that macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in people over age 50, and we don’t want you to be one of them. Give our macular degeneration specialist in Lebanon PA a call today.