Why You Shouldn't Ignore Dry Eyes
If your dry eyes are more common than simply experiencing the need for a few drops every now and then, read on to learn how to treat your dry eye and what could happen if you don’t seek treatment.
How Do I Know if I Have Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is a serious eye condition. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) says age-related macular degeneration is the main cause of age-related loss of vision in the center of eye among people 50 and older in the US. Because macular degeneration can worsen over time, its management is critical to retaining your eyesight.
Dr. Phillip Wu of Suburban Eyes Clinic in Evanston, Illinois, can help patients maintain healthy vision and manage macular degeneration. The first step is recognizing the common symptoms of macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration explained
Here’s a little eye anatomy.
Your eyeball is made of several parts, including the retina, located in the back of your eye. The retina records images and sends them through your optic nerve. The optic nerve travels between your eye and your brain, which is how you see.
The central part of your retina is called the macula, your body’s camera lens. Its job is to focus the central part of your vision on an image, which helps you read, recognize faces, and drive. When cells within the macula deteriorate, your brain stops receiving clear images. This is macular degeneration. If left untreated, iut can cause vision loss.
Two kinds of macular degeneration exist: Dry (atrophic) and wet (exudative). Most sufferers have dry macular degeneration, a vision loss caused by little deposits of drusen
— little pebbles of yellow fatty proteins — that develop in the macula.
The wet type of macular degeneration happens when abnormal blood vessels emerge underneath the macula and retina. These unneeded blood vessels cause dark spots in your vision because they bleed or leak fluid. Only 10 to 15% of people with macular degeneration have a wet diagnosis.
Symptoms of macular degeneration
According to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF), macular degeneration symptoms follow three stages:
- Early symptoms include the presence of drusen that Dr. Wu can detect in an eye examination.
- Intermediate symptoms can include some vision loss. A comprehensive eye exam is recommended to check for large deposits of drusen or pigment changes in your retina.
- Late-stage symptoms, when drusen or leaking blood vessels become more obvious upon examination, include trouble adapting to low light, difficulty recognizing faces, blurriness, or hazy vision.
How to treat macular degeneration
The AMDF says treatment for early dry macular degeneration should include nutritional therapy that includes these diet supplements:
- Lutein
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Zeaxanthin
- Vitamin D3
- Zinc
- Omega-3 fatty acids
Tufts Medical Center in Boston has created a formula that includes these antioxidants, plus carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Macular degeneration is a progressive disease and should be treated immediately. If you notice any symptoms, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Wu by calling 847-424-1100 or using our online scheduling tool.
You Might Also Enjoy...
How Does Diabetes Affect Your Eyes?
Diabetes can affect many parts of your body, including your eyes. Learn about diabetic eye disease and what you can do to prevent or manage it, and preserve your vision.
Can I Go Blind if I Have Glaucoma?
If you notice changes in your vision, you might have a condition called glaucoma. Without prompt treatment, you’re at risk for vision decline and blindness. Learn more about the link between glaucoma and blindness and the symptoms to look for.
Diagnosing Blepharitis
If you’re struggling with itchy, inflamed eyelids, here’s a look at how we can determine whether blepharitis is to blame. First, you need to recognize the warning signs, and then we can do our part here to diagnose and treat the problem.
Understanding Conjunctivitis
Also called pink eye, conjunctivitis affects millions of people each year. But just because it’s common, that doesn’t mean you should ignore it. In fact, without medical care, some types of pink eye can cause vision loss. Here’s how it’s treated.
Tips for Managing Chronic Dry Eyes
Everyone experiences dry eyes from time to time. They typically aren’t a cause for concern. Chronic dry eyes are another matter. If your eyes are routinely dry, itchy, and stinging, you may need treatment for chronic dry eyes.