Your eyes are very important. Many people don't realise just how valuable their vision is until it starts to fail. I was one of these people. I didn't give a second thought to my eyes or keeping them healthy. However, one day, I noticed that I couldn't see as clearly as I used to. I struggle to read the small print on paperwork and sometimes I would find that my vision would become unfocused. I visited the optometrist, and he assessed my eyes. I've now been prescribed contact lenses which really help me. I hope the articles I have posted here help you.
If you're in the prime of life and have recently noticed some issues with your vision, you'll certainly want to find out what is going on. If you seem to have a problem with the central part of your vision, it's possible that you're suffering from age-related macular degeneration. What does this involve, and what is the first thing you should do?
Understanding the Challenge
Specialists are not entirely sure what causes this disease, but it can result in significant loss of eyesight for people as they age. This illness only affects the central part of the vision, distinguishing it from other problems. It can cause difficulty reading the small print or seeing finer details as a specific part of the retina becomes damaged.
Types of Macular Degeneration
There are two different types of age-related macular degeneration known as "wet" and "dry." The latter is by far the most common, and it's thought that both environmental factors and genetic history may play a role. As the light-sensitive cells in the centre of the macular begin to deteriorate, vision becomes more difficult.
With wet macular degeneration, vision loss can become more severe and can develop more quickly. In this case, certain blood cells begin to grow underneath the retina and may leak fluid. This could lead to a more significant blindspot towards the centre of the vision.
Contributing Factors
Certain factors may contribute to the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, including smoking, hypertension and a diet too high in saturated fat.
Testing Procedures
If you suspect you might have a problem, the first thing to do is visit an optometrist. They will carry out an initial visual acuity test and give you eye drops so they can look closely at the retina. It's also possible to use a specific diagram known as an Amsler grid, which has a sequence of vertical and horizontal lines laid out in a grid. When the patient conducts this test, they will be asked if any of those lines appear wavy. If so, this may indicate the possibility of this disease.
Treatment Options
There are no specific treatments for dry macular degeneration, although a specialist may recommend injections for the wet variety. These injections feature a type of medication that can combat the damaging effects of leaking blood vessels.
Taking the Next Step
So, the first step is to visit your optometrist for an examination, and they will advise you on what to do next.
Share13 July 2022
