Macular Degeneration Specialist
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Bulls Eye Care
Optometrist located in South Tampa, Tampa, FL
As the leading cause of declined vision in people 50 or older, macular degeneration is a serious issue that you should be aware of as you age. Even though the condition isn’t curable, Dennis Garcia, OD, can evaluate you and slow its progression with treatment at Bulls Eye Care in Tampa, Florida. If you’re interested in learning more about the condition, set up an eye exam by calling Bulls Eye Care or booking online today.
Macular Degeneration Q & A
What is macular degeneration?
Macular degeneration is an eye disorder that gets worse with time, causing you to lose vision sharpness with age and eventually causing a full loss of vision. You’ll notice your central vision decline first, and you’ll still have sharp peripheral vision for a while as the condition develops.
Macular degeneration is also called age-related macular degeneration (AMD) because it appears and gets worse as you get older. It’s harder to notice symptoms like central vision blurriness or distortion when they only affect one eye or if they’re significantly worse in one eye than the other.
Factors like smoking, being overweight, and eating lots of saturated fat put you at a higher risk for AMD.
Which type of macular degeneration do I have?
There are two types of age-related macular degeneration:
Wet AMD
Wet AMD is the less common of the two and is the result of blood vessels leaking into the back of the eye. Usually, the vision loss that comes with wet AMD is more significant than the vision loss from dry AMD, and it’s possible, yet rare, to lose your vision all at once.
Dry AMD
Dry AMD, the far more common variety of the two, develops when proteins clump together as the macula gets thinner. The loss of vision is gradual and painless, and you might be able to slow its progression by taking nutritional supplements like vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and copper.
How is macular degeneration treated?
Bulls Eye Care offers several treatments for AMD that can slow future loss of vision and, in some cases, improve current eyesight. With dry AMD, you should take any supplements that Dr. Garcia recommends and eat a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet. You should also stop smoking if it’s a habit of yours.
Although it’s more advanced, wet AMD has more available treatments. One of the best ways to manage wet AMD without surgery is with anti-VEGF drugs. These medications work by reducing the number of blood vessels in your eye to control blood and fluid leakage.
In certain cases, Dr. Garcia might recommend laser surgery to treat wet AMD. Similar to anti-VEGF drugs, laser surgery for wet AMD reduces blood vessels within the eye and slows the leakage of blood and fluids.
To find out more about both varieties of macular degeneration and get an eye exam, call Bulls Eye Care or request an appointment online today.
