Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration Services from Your Optometrist in Leawood, KS

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) strikes nearly 2 million Americans.  A loss of central vision could someday affect the more than 7 million others with AMD risk factors.  The best way for Leawood residents to protect their vision from this and other vision problems is by undergoing regular eye exams at our Vision Professionals of Leawood clinic.

Macular Degeneration

Overview of Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration has two types: dry and wet. The macula is the portion of the eye that provides the sharpest vision. As AMD progresses, it destroys a person’s central vision, while his or her peripheral vision remains unchanged. AMD is a progressive disease, beginning as dry AMD and transitioning into wet AMD. Dry AMD is characterized by protein deposits called drusen growing in a person’s macula, which damage vision. Wet AMD is what happens when the eye begins to grow new faulty blood vessels in the retina, which cause further vision loss.

Once a part of central vision is lost, there is no way to restore it.  Sometimes patients do not suspect anything amiss until the condition is advanced.  The signs common to both types of AMD are difficulty distinguishing colors and seeing details.

Most dry AMD symptoms, which typically affect both eyes, develop gradually.  They include:

  • Straight lines appear bent
  • Print looks increasingly blurred
  • Reduced central vision
  • Eyes have increasing trouble adjusting to lowered light in a room
  • Needing brighter and brighter light to complete close work
  • Difficulty recognizing faces
  • Colors appear dimmer or less intense

Our wet AMD patients commonly experience these symptoms:

  • Perceiving straight lights as bent
  • Vision appears hazy
  • Reduction in central vision
  • Definite blind or blurry spot in the central visual field
  • Lowered brightness or intensity of colors
  • Rapid development or progression of symptoms

Treatment from Our Eye Doctor

Our eye doctor diagnoses macular degeneration after a comprehensive vision exam.  Scheduled monitoring is essential to screen for both dry and wet AMD.  Patients in our practice benefit from prescribed medication and referrals for eye surgery when required.

Dietary changes and certain nutritional supplements sometimes slow vision loss in dry AMD patients.  With an early wet AMD diagnosis, several therapies might be beneficial.  The first is medication injected into the eye.  Some patients undergo laser surgery to limit vision loss.  In some cases, a laser activates medication that has been injected into the bloodstream.

Schedule an Exam with Our Leawood Optometrist

The staff at our Vision Professionals of Leawood clinic provides all-in-one primary eye care services for Leawood families.  We want to help you enjoy optimal eyesight for many years.  Be sure to call us today at (913) 239-9446 to schedule an appointment with our skilled eye doctor and help protect your vision.

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