Macular Degeneration

There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration. The first type is dry macular degeneration, also known as non-neovascular. The second type is wet macular degeneration, also known as neovascular.

• Dry Macular Degeneration

  The vast majority of patients have dry macular degeneration. Non-neovascular is considered the early stages of the disease and occurs as the macular tissue starts thinning or deteriorating. In addition, patients will experience the formation of abnormal yellow deposits called drusen. Progression of dry macular degeneration occurs very slowly and does not always affect both eyes equally.

• Wet Macular Degeneration

  Wet macular degeneration is the more advanced stages of the disease and only about 10 percent of patients progress to this stage. Neovascular macular degeneration occurs when abnormal or leaking blood vessels grow underneath the retina in the area of the macula. These changes can lead to distorted or blurred vision and, in some cases, a rapid and severe loss of straight-ahead vision.

The root causes of macular degeneration are still unknown. However, it is more common in women and patients with light skin or eye color. Patients can minimize their risk by exercising, eating food rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, and seeing Central Valley Eye Medical Group for regular eye examinations. The following genetic and environmental factors can increase the risk of developing macular degeneration.

1. 1. • Age: the majority of patients are over 65 years of age.
      • Heredity: is common in some families but not in others
      • Long-term sun exposure
      • Smoking
      • High blood pressure
      • High cholesterol
      • Hypertension
      • Nutritional deficiencies
      • Diabetes
      • Head injury
      • Infection

Dry macular degeneration can cause little, if any, change in vision. As the disease progresses, patients can experience difficulty seeing while reading or driving, the inability to see fine details, and develop blind spots in the center of vision. Additionally, patients can experience the feeling that objects “jump” when they try to look at them and objects can appear distorted, blurred, or abnormal in shape, size, and color.

If the disease progresses to the wet form, patients can begin to perceive straight lines as wavy or crooked, have larger blind spots, and increased central vision loss. With wet macular degeneration, it can take as little as a few days or weeks for central vision loss to progress. Due to these symptoms, many patients require lifestyle changes. Patients can lose the ability to drive, read, or recognize faces. However, peripheral vision remains so patients typically remain capable of being independent.

At Central Valley Eye Medical Group, our doctors can identify changes of the macula during a routine eye examination. Even at the early stages and without symptoms we can identify macular degeneration by looking into your eyes with various instruments. We also use a chart known as an Amsler Grid which can pick up subtle changes in vision.

Our staff also uses an angiography which is the most widely used macular degeneration diagnostic test. During the test, one of our doctors will inject a harmless orange-red dye, Fluorescein, into a vein in the arm. The dye travels through the body to the blood vessels in the retina. A special camera takes multiple photographs. The pictures are then analyzed to identify damage to the lining of the retina or atypical new blood vessels. The formation of new blood vessels from blood vessels in and under the macula is often the first physical sign that macular degeneration may develop. In addition, our staff has invested in an optical coherence tomography scanner which uses light waves to create a contour map of the retina and can show areas of thickening or fluid accumulation.

There is no cure for macular degeneration, however, we offer several treatment options so patients can manage their condition and preserve their vision as much as possible. The course of treatment we use will vary based on the patient, the severity and type of the disease, and if any vision loss has occurred. At Central Valley Eye Medical Group, we recommend the following treatment options.

• Diet and Nutritional Supplements

  There has been active research on the use of vitamins and nutritional supplements called antioxidants to try to prevent or slow macular degeneration. Antioxidants are thought to protect against the damaging effects of oxygen-charged molecules called free radicals. A potentially important group of antioxidants are carotenoids. These are the pigments that give fruits and vegetables their color. Two carotenoids that occur naturally in the macula are lutein and zeaxanthin. Some research studies suggest that people who have diets high in lutein and zeaxanthin may have a lower risk of developing macular degeneration. Kale, raw spinach, and collard greens are vegetables with the highest amount of lutein and zeaxanthin. You can also buy nutritional supplements that are high in these and other antioxidants.

• Low Vision Aids

  Low vision aids may help make it easier to live with the decreased vision of macular degeneration. These aids range from hand-held magnifying glasses to sophisticated systems that use video cameras to enlarge a printed page. Lifestyle aids such as large print books, tape-recorded books or magazines, large print playing cards, talking clocks, and scales and many other devices are available.

• Intravitreal Retinal Injections

  LUCENTIS and Macugen are new treatments for the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. These injections block abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage.

• Laser Treatments

  In rare cases of wet macular degeneration, laser treatment may be recommended. This involves the use of painless laser light to destroy abnormal, leaking blood vessels under the retina. This form of treatment is only possible when the abnormal blood vessels are far enough away from the macula that it will not damage it. Therefore, only rare cases of wet macular degeneration meet these criteria. When laser treatment is possible, it may slow or stop the progression of the disease but is generally not expected to bring back any vision that has already been lost.

  Some cases of wet macular degeneration can be treated with photodynamic therapy or PDT. In those cases where PDT is appropriate, slowing of the loss of vision and sometimes, even improvement in vision is possible.

Seeking macular degeneration treatment in Stockton, CA or Manteca, CA? Give us a call at 1.800.244.9907 or click here to fill out a contact form!