The eyes are vital organs in our body. They play a crucial role in our day-to-day activities. Unfortunately, our eyes are prone to many conditions, especially as we age. Research shows that one of the leading causes of sight loss in the United States is age-related eye conditions. One common age-related condition is macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration is a severe eye condition that requires early intervention. Dr. Greg Wacasey offers the testing and care our patients need to manage macular degeneration and prevent the condition from severely impacting their eye health. Here are answers to a few common questions about macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration is an eye condition that affects your macula, the central part of your eye retina. There are two categories of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Dry is the most common where macula becomes thin, and protein deposits form and distort your vision. The wet type occurs when new blood vessels leak blood or fluid, damaging the cells that sense light in the retina.
Anyone can have macular degeneration. However, certain factors increase the chance of developing this eye condition. You are at a higher risk if you:
Are a smoker
You are older
You have cardiovascular disease
You are obese
Most of these age-related eye diseases show no signs until it's too late. A regular visit to our optometrist is essential to catch macular degeneration early on. However, if you experience these symptoms, you might have macular degeneration:
Blind or blurry spots in your vision
Seeing straight lines as crooked
Trouble recognizing faces
Reduced central vision
Our eye doctor can detect macular degeneration during an annual eye exam. After proper diagnosis, we will come up with a treatment plan. For example, we may prescribe vitamin supplements to slow down the progression or recommend certain lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, to slow the progression of macular degeneration.
Regular check-ups can help catch macular degeneration early. Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Greg Wacasey by contacting our Longview office today.