Macular degeneration is the most common cause of
severe vision loss among people over 65, and, as life expectancy increases,
the disease is becoming an increasingly important problem. The two common
types of macular degeneration are dry and wet. The dry form accounts for
90% of cases and is caused by aging and thinning of the tissues of the
macula. It develops slowly and usually causes mild vision loss. People
often notice a dimming of vision when they read. Wet macular degeneration
is a much greater threat to vision loss even though it accounts for only 10%
of cases. With the wet form of the disease, new blood vessels grow beneath
the retina where they leak fluid and blood and can create a large blind
disturbance of vision.
Although it's more common for people over 60, it is
possible to develop symptoms in your 40's or 50's. Macular degeneration
often runs in families. Symptoms can include:
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blurry or fuzzy vision |
|
|
straight lines, such as
sentences on a page, telephone
poles, appear wavy |
|
|
a dark or empty area
appears in the center of the vision |
If you experience any of these symptoms in either
one or both eyes, schedule an appointment with Dr. Cravey for an examination
immediately.
Although Dr. Cravey will be able to readily detect
the disease during an eye exam, he won't be able to cure it. The goal is to
help the patient see better and stabilize the condition.
