Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration Month in Tallahassee
At the office of Dr. Tiffany Malone, Tallahassee’s optometrist, we know all too well about macular degeneration and the vision loss that can come with it. One of our main goals at Big Bend Family Eye Care is to help you keep your eye site humming along as long as possible. As we venture into February, we take time to help you understand what this eye disease is and how our optical staff can help.
What is Macular Degeneration?
In basic terms, macular degeneration is when your macula, the center part of the eye behind the retina, starts to thin and age. It is directly responsible for straight ahead vision or central vision. When you want to read, drive and anything else that requires sharp, clear central vision, you rely on your macula. Macular degeneration then, directly affects your ability for your eyes to adapt to and from low light situations. Things like driving after dark suddenly proves to be difficult. Some common symptoms in your straight ahead vision are:
- Blurry vision;
- Fuzzy vision;
- Shadowy places;
- General distortion of sight.
Dr. Malone’s team of specialists can, with a standard retinal exam, usually can detect the early signs of macular degeneration before the symptoms show up. We use proven tools to test your central vision. If Dr. Malone sees a problem, we will start additional tests to check the blood vessels around the macula and retina. There are treatments available if you’ve suffered damage to the macula due to age or other factors.
What Types of Macular Degeneration are There?
There are different types, or stages, of macular degeneration. The most common terms that most people hear and use are:
- Dry Macular Degeneration (Dry);
- Wet Macular Degeneration (Wet);
- Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
If you suffer from dry macular degeneration, the you are in the early stage. Wet macular degeneration is what we consider the more advanced. The most common type is age related macular degeneration. Since we have people living past the age of 60, AMD is the most prevalent in today’s world. There are stats that say over 1.7 million people in the United States alone have AMD.
The staff here at Big Bend Family Eye Care want you to know the importance of comprehensive annual eye exams. If we can catch this horrible eye disease in it’s early stages, then your vision in the long run can last longer. Our eye care specialists strive to provide the most current education and treatments.