Facts On Macular Degeneration Treatment Bethesda Residents Should Know

Written By Admin on Jumat, 04 Agustus 2017 | 01.27

By Walter Green


In general advancing age is associated with a number of eye conditions that frequently result in visual impairment. Age-related macular degeneration or AMD is among the commonest. AMD has been known to result in the loss of central vision in both eyes. This means that the affected individual will have trouble seeing objects when they focus straight at them. If looking for macular degeneration treatment Bethesda residents need to understand a number of things beforehand.

You should suspect AMD when you start experiencing blurred vision that is progressive in severity. You will also notice that reading is becoming difficult due to the impairment of central vision. The colors might not be as vibrant as before and facial recognition of people poses a major challenge. In a few cases, the progression of symptoms is quite rapid. Visit your general practitioner for a comprehensive eye checkup and diagnosis.

If the general practitioner ascertains that you are indeed suffering from AMD, they will refer you to an eye specialist (also known as an ophthalmologist). The specialist will take your clinical history and conduct additional tests on the affected ayes so as to determine the type of AMD you may be suffering from. There are two main types; the dry and the wet type. The former is more common and is caused by accumulation of a deposit known as drusen in the eye.

The wet type (or serous) AMD contributes to about 10% of all cases that are seen. The cause of wet AMD is damage to the macula by new vessels that are growing within it. This is why the type has also been termed neovascular AMD. Although less common, wet AMD has a more aggressive progression and is more severe.

No definitive treatment of AMD exists as yet. The available management methods that exist are aimed at optimizing the remaining vision. Individuals who have trouble reading because of the condition are usually given magnifying glasses to assist them. The general advice for a person that has been identified as being at risk is that they should increase their intake of green leafy vegetables.

There is no definitive treatment for AMD. Measures that are taken by the specialist are aimed at utilizing the remaining visual ability as much as possible. One of the interventions that are undertaken is the prescription of magnifying lenses for those that already have problems reading. For persons that are at risk of the condition, the general advice is that they should increase their intake of green leafy vegetables which have been shown to slow the progression.

The risk factors for this condition are not well known. What is known is that the risk rises with advancing age. Therefore, putting in place preventive measures may not be that easy. For those that have developed it already, a number of things can be undertaken. Such include cessation of smoking, eating a balanced diet, reduction of alcohol intake and weight control among others.

AMD is a leading cause of visual impairment among the elderly. It is estimated that 10% of persons aged 60 years and above are affected. In rare circumstances, AMD has been diagnosed in younger patients. When encountered, the condition is usually the result of an underlying disease. The management is the same as that of the adult type.




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