Macular Degeneration

Losing your central vision may be the first sign you have macular degeneration. At Vistasite Eye Care, experienced optometrist Vladimir Dvoretsky, OD, provides comprehensive eye exams to screen for changes in your eyes that may signal macular degeneration. In addition to advanced testing, the practice offers customized treatment plans to manage your condition and preserve your eyesight long-term. Call the office in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, or book an appointment online today.

What is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration is a condition that affects the center (macula) of your retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. The retina’s center focuses light so you can see clearly and recognize the fine details of faces and other objects.

When the macula breaks down due to age-related changes or eye injuries, it can’t capture images correctly.

There are two types of macular degeneration:

Wet macular degeneration

Wet macular degeneration is the less common but more serious type of the condition. Blood vessels grow in the wrong space within your eye and begin to leak, damaging the macula and lessening your ability to see clearly.

Dry macular degeneration

Dry macular degeneration develops when yellowish deposits collect on your macula, drying it out and causing it to thin. This condition is the most common type of macular degeneration and develops slowly over time.

When should I seek medical care for macular degeneration?

You can have macular degeneration for some time before you experience vision disturbances or other symptoms. For this reason, it’s important that you schedule routine eye exams at Vistasite Eye Care.

During an eye exam, your provider checks for deposits on the macula or blood vessel abnormalities. Identifying these issues in the earliest stages can make the condition easier to treat.

If you delay exams and macular degeneration progresses, you may start to lose your central vision and need brighter light to see clearly.

How is macular degeneration treated?

There’s currently no treatment for dry macular degeneration, so the Vistasite Eye Care providers focus on preserving vision and slowing disease progression. They may recommend lifestyle changes like:

• Quitting smoking
• Wearing UV-protective sunglasses
• Eating a healthy diet
• Getting daily exercise

For wet macular degeneration, your optometrist may recommend injections of medications that prevent new blood vessels from growing. Low-vision therapies are also available to help you adapt to living with limited central vision.

You also need to keep up with your routine eye exams, so your provider can monitor changes in your eye health from one visit to the next.

To schedule a macular degeneration screening, call Vistasite Eye Care or book a consultation online today.