Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Castle Rock, CO
Wet AMD occurs when fluid leaks into the macula, hence the name, and tends to be chronic. This wet area causes blind spots where the fluid sits. Wet AMD is the more serious of the two types because it advances very quickly. Although, with early detection, vision is recoverable in some cases.
What are the symptoms of AMD?
Common symptoms of Age-related Macular Degeneration in Castle Rock, CO, include, but aren’t limited to:
- Blurred vision
- A blind spot in the field of vision
- Reduced clarity in one or both eyes
- Visual distortion
- Colors seeming dull
- Difficulty recognizing faces
Both conditions have similar symptoms, although with the wet version there’s often a well-defined blind spot in your field of vision. Dry AMD is characterized by sensitivity to low light and slowly diminishing vision, as opposed to marked blind spots.
What are the risk factors for AMD?
As the name suggests, the largest risk factor for AMD is age. As your body grows older, its cells begin to break down, and your risk of disease increases.
Some other risk factors include genetics, race, and overall health. People with a family history of AMD are more at risk to develop the disease, and smoking will double a person’s chance of AMD. It’s also closely related to cardiovascular disease.
How is AMD treated?
There’s no treatment to stop the progression of dry AMD. If detected early, however, you can slow down the disease. Taking vitamins, eating healthy, maintaining a proper weight, and not smoking are effective ways to slow AMD down. Medication may also stop the development of the leaky blood vessels that lead to wet macular degeneration.
Other treatments Dr. Joseph Raffa and Dr. Reggie Ragsdale may recommend include:
- Light therapy
- Laser therapy
- Low vision adaptive rehabilitation
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