MACULAR DEGENERATION

MACULAR DEGENERATION

Macular degeneration (AMD) is caused by damage to the central area of the light sensitive tissue (retina) at the back of the eye, called the macula, which provides the most detailed part of your vision. It mainly affects the over 50s and often the first signs are having trouble with reading, recognising faces, adjusting to going from light to dark (e.g. coming indoors on a sunny day) or straight lines appearing wavy (e.g. looking at Venetian blinds at home).

The damage in AMD is mainly due to exposure to the UV rays in sunlight over many years but is thought to be hereditary in some families so, if you have a close relative with this condition, it is wise to let our optometrist know and make sure you keep up your regular eye examinations.

Even before your vision starts to be affected, our optometrists can see changes in the back of your eye and get you referred quickly. We have all the latest equipment to diagnose & monitor macular degeneration, please click on the words below to see how we use them
  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
  • Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy
  • Digital Fundus Photography
  • Amsler Grid
  • Contrast Sensitivity Testing
There are two forms of the condition – "dry" (which progresses more slowly) and "wet" (which progresses more swiftly). As wet macular degeneration can progress very rapidly, early intervention is extremely important. Our optometrists are trained to give a fast track referral to the ophthalmologist at the local hospital. This means you get to see the right specialist and get the treatment you need much more quickly, giving you the very best chance of preserving your sight.

Our optometrists are also trained to prescribe nutritional supplements that may slow the progress of macular degeneration There are also many visual aids to help patients with macular degeneration and we are always happy to give advice. You can also get more information on macular degeneration from the website below…

The Macular Disease Society http://www.maculardisease.org
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