Macular Degeneration in Honesdale, Dingmans Ferry, Carbondale, & Lake Ariel, PA
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries and affects nearly 1 in 8 adults over the age of 60. AMD is a chronic, progressive disease that attacks the macula, a part of the retina that allows us to see objects located straight ahead of us. The macula is responsible for your central vision, which allows you to do things like recognize faces, read, watch TV and drive.
Stages of AMD
Subclinical AMD – the earliest detectable stage of AMD. The first warning sign comes in the form of trouble seeing at night. If you begin having difficulty driving at night, reading in dim light or adjusting to seeing in the dark, tell your eye care provider. Identifying AMD at this point is critical to proactively managing AMD.
Early to Intermediate AMD – at this point, your doctor may see drusen – yellow deposits of fatty protein under your retina – which is an indicator of AMD.
Advanced AMD – during this stage, people may notice central vision loss and blurriness. The transition from early to late-stage happens rapidly. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness in as little as six months. While treatment options can slow the progression of late AMD, nothing can be done to reverse the damage already done.
AMD Symptoms and Risk Factors
The earliest symptom of AMD is impaired dark adaptation, which may cause difficulty seeing or driving at night. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include distortion of straight lines or dark and blurry central vision
Primary risk factors:
- Age over 50
- Family history of AMD
- Caucasian
- Smoker or past smoker
- Overweight
- Heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
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