Macular Degeneration and its Impact on Lifestyle

Age related macular degeneration is one of the primary causes of low vision among elderly Americans. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, it is the leading cause of blindness in the United States for those over the age of 50. Macular degeneration causes a loss of vision in the center of the retina, which is the most troublesome area in which to suffer problems. Low vision in this area can cause victims to have trouble seeing details, and even cause them to be unable to recognize faces. It also impacts other areas of life, such as driving, reading, and playing cards.

All of our low vision specialists are well versed in macular degeneration, its causes and symptoms, and treatments. Besides the use of new glasses for macular degeneration, our low vision specialists can prescribe telescope glasses, electronic tools, medication, and other macular degeneration devices to combat vision problems. In short, all of our doctors are ready to do whatever it takes to prescribe the correct macular degeneration treatment to help you maintain your quality of life.

Macular Degeneration Symptoms

Here are some of the symptoms associated with macular degeneration. If you are experiencing any of these, see a low vision specialist immediately.

• Blurred vision. This can occur gradually, or it can happen in a very short amount of time. The blurriness will usually occur in the center of the field of vision.
• Shadows or missing areas of vision.
• Distorted vision. Straight lines may appear wavy, or may not be visible at all.
• Difficulty discerning between colors.
• A very slow recovery of vision after being exposed to bright light.

Macular Degeneration Diagnosis and Treatment

There are a variety of macular degeneration devices and low vision aids that doctors will employ to treat your condition.

First, our low vision specialist will evaluate your vision and eyesight. An evaluation is done for any patient whose vision has been impaired to the point where they cannot do some of the things that they enjoy doing. This can include playing cards, driving, or being able to see family members clearly. During this evaluation, specialized charts are used to accurately determine the amount of vision remaining.

The patient’s current eyeglass prescription is evaluated as well. With this information, our specialist is able to determine what kind of new glass for macular degeneration are required. Once the appropriate amount of magnification is decided upon, the doctor will employ one of the macular degeneration devices available.

Macular Degeneration Devices

The low vision aids available to our doctors include:

Magnifiers

Low Vision Reading Glasses

Prismatic

Microscopic

Telemicroscopic

Telescopic Glasses

Full diameter

Bioptic

Other

Electronic Aids

These are just a few of the macular degeneration devices that may be used by our low vision specialists. Our doctors are committed to providing the best care possible to allow you to continue to enjoy a healthy quality of life. To that end, the doctor will use whatever macular degeneration devices that are necessary