Macular Degeneration
Board Certified Ophthalmologist located in Irvine, CA
If you’re struggling with a blind spot in the middle of your vision or a loss of the finer details in your sight, you may have macular degeneration. This eye condition can impact your ability to read, drive, and focus on the details in your central field of vision. However, with the guidance of board-certified ophthalmologist Andrew Lee, MD, at Irvine Eye Center in Irvine, California, you can maintain your vision and manage additional symptoms. To schedule an eye exam and find out if you need treatment for macular degeneration, call Irvine Eye Center or book an appointment online today.
Macular degeneration, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is an eye condition that causes your central vision to decline. While it’s very rare for anyone to lose their vision entirely from AMD, you may eventually stop seeing fine details. You may have trouble driving, reading, and performing other daily tasks because of the changes.
There are two forms of macular degeneration:
Wet AMD is the less common form of macular degeneration. It involves an overgrowth of blood vessels in your eyes that leak and cause damage to your visual field.
Dry AMD, the most common type of macular degeneration, occurs when the light-sensitive cells in your macula (the central portion of your retina) start to break down and cause gradual vision decline.
Macular degeneration causes several possible symptoms that can differ from person to person. As your macula degenerates, symptoms like these tend to increase over time:
While you may not see them yourself, slight yellow spots in your retina may be visible to your ophthalmologist during a routine eye exam. They might notice these before you detect any changes in your eyesight.
The experts at Irvine Eye Center are knowledgeable on the topic of macular degeneration and guide your treatment with individualized care. Indeed, Dr. Lee is a published author on macular degeneration and continues to treat the condition with expertise. Both he and your provider can answer your questions while monitoring your condition’s improvement.
While there is no cure for dry macular degeneration, treatments can help you maintain the vision you still have while adjusting to any vision changes. Low-vision devices and rehabilitation programs can help you manage your symptoms.
Specifically for Wet AMD, the primary treatment is a type of medication called an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agent. You administer these medications directly into your eye, where they help control bleeding from the excessive blood vessels. For some people, these medications help stabilize their vision.
For more information on treatments for wet and dry macular degeneration, call Irvine Eye Center or schedule an appointment online today.