What is Wet Macular Degeneration?
There are two forms of macular degeneration- wet and dry. Macular degeneration is a very serious eye condition, and one of the leading causes of blindness and vision impairment. Dry macular degeneration is the most common type of this condition. Wet (neovascular) macular degeneration is the most serious type. Prevention is one of the best things you can do to reduce the risks of macular degeneration but understanding what can become of macular degeneration will help you take those steps to prevent or get the help you need going forward.
What is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration happens over time as we age. This disease usually occurs in people over the age of 50, but can begin to develop as young as 40. The eye condition typically manifests with only mild symptoms, such as slight blurriness or vision distortion, and progressively gets worse. The macular is essentially the center most part of the eye internally. This is the center of the retina. As the degeneration occurs, one will commonly notice slight blurriness or vision distortion, and this will progressively gets worse. These symptoms are typically only mild to begin with. This does not happen to everyone, but it is very important to have an eye exam as soon as possible if you are noticing any changes in vision.
Macular degeneration is also know as age-related macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is a disease that blurs the sharp, central vision you need for straight-ahead activities such as reading, sewing, and driving. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine details. Thankfully, AMD does not cause any pain despite it potentially leading to blindness.
If you are someone who infrequently visits the eye doctor due to great vision for years, it is even more important to come on in to have your eyes checked out the moment you realize your vision is not as crisp as it used to be. Even if you do not feel like you are noticing a difference in your vision but are over the age of 40, it is time to start coming to your annual check up to get a baseline. You may find your vision has changed and you just haven’t realized it yet. You never want to take a chance on your eyes as you only get two of them.
What is Wet Macular Degeneration?
Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula. With wet AMD, loss of central vision can occur quickly. Wet AMD is considered to be advanced AMD and is usually more severe than the dry form. It can develop and progress extraordinarily fast. Caused by the abnormal formation of blood vessels and subsequent leakage of blood or fluid between the layers of the retina, wet macular degeneration can result in permanent tissue damage. Central vision loss and reduction in the ability to see fine details can be effects of wet macular degeneration. If wet macular degeneration occurs in one eye, the risk of it affecting the other eye is increased.
All people who have the wet form of macular degeneration first had the dry form. The dry form can suddenly turn into the wet form, even during the early stages of macular degeneration. Please note: there is no way to tell if or when the dry form will turn into the wet form. If you have dry macular degeneration, that does not mean you will automatically have it become wet. The dry form can advance and cause vision loss without turning into the wet form.
There are some treatments available that can slow vision loss and even improve eyesight for patients affected by wet macular degeneration; however, early diagnosis is vital. Here at Perich Eye Center, we can treat wet AMD with laser surgery, photodynamic therapy, and painless injection of medication into the eye. We want to be clear that while these treatments can slow the progression of wet AMD can not be completely cured. Loss of vision may progress despite treatment.
What are the early signs of wet macular degeneration?
One of the fist symptoms of wet macular degeneration is seeing straight lines appear wavy. Some people notice a dullness in colors that were once vivid. Others may realize their ability to adjust their sight to lower light situations- like entering a darker cocktail bar. If you notice straight lines appearing wavy or other changes to your vision, contact us here at Perich Eye Center at once. We will get you in right away for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
How is Macular Degeneration detected?
AMD is detected during a comprehensive eye exam that includes a visual acuity test and dilated eye exam. The visual acuity test is an eye chart test that measures how well you see at various distances.
In the dilated eye exam, drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. Your eye care professional uses a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of AMD and other eye problems. After the exam, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.
How is Dry Macular Degeneration different?
Dry AMD occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. As dry AMD gets worse, you may see a blurred spot in the center of your vision. Over time, as less of the macula functions, central vision in the affected eye can be lost. If you have vision loss from dry AMD in one eye only, you may not notice any changes in your overall vision.
With the other eye seeing clearly, you can still drive, read, and see fine details. You may notice changes in your vision only if AMD affects both eyes. For dry macular degeneration, it is currently unknown exactly what beyond hereditary and/or environmental factors. What is interesting is that all wet macular degeneration actually starts as dry macular degeneration. However, having been diagnosed with dry macular degeneration does not automatically mean it will develop into the wet form.
Dry macular degeneration can advance and cause vision loss without turning into the wet form. The dry form can also suddenly turn into the wet form, even during the early stages of macular degeneration. Dry AMD has three stages — early AMD, intermediate AMD, and advanced dry AMD. All of these may occur in one or both eyes.
People with early dry AMD have either several small drusen or a few medium sized drusen. Drusen are yellow deposits under the retina, which often are found in people over age 50. People with early AMD have no symptoms and no vision loss.
If you have intermediate dry AMD you may have either many medium-sized drusen or one or more large drusen. You may also see a blurred spot in the center of their vision, or need more light for reading and other tasks. In addition to drusen, people with advanced dry AMD have a breakdown of light-sensitive cells and supporting tissue in the macula. This breakdown can cause a blurred spot in the center of your vision.
Over time, the blurred spot may get bigger and darker, taking more of your central vision. You may have difficulty reading or recognizing the faces of other people until they are very close to you.
What are the early signs of dry macular degeneration?
The most common symptom of dry macular degeneration is slightly blurred vision. If you have had glasses much of your life, you may miss judge this as needing a different prescription. If this is something completely new to you, it is important to take it seriously and not brush it off. You will want to schedule an eye exam right away to ensure proper care any time you notice a change in your vision.
Other symptoms can be difficulty recognizing faces. Or, you may need more light for reading and other close up work. Printed words can become more blurry or difficult to make out. You may notice there is some form of blind spot forming potentially in the center of one or both eyes. Dry macular degeneration generally affects both eyes, but vision can be lost in one eye while the other eye seems unaffected.
Can my lifestyle make a difference in macular degeneration?
Yes, lifestyle changes can help make a difference in protecting your vision as well as your overall health. Here are some tips we recommend to help reduce your risk of developing macular degeneration:
Refrain from smoking. If you are a current smoker, we recommend that you get the support you need to help you quit
Eat a healthy diet full of greens, vegetables, fruits and fresh fish - Avoid excessive red meat and pork. Lean proteins are your best bet. The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants you consume from real fruits and vegetables is invaluable to maintaining a healthy body.
Exercise, do yoga, and meditate. Get your body moving in one way or another on a regular basis and find time to center yourself through meditation or prayer.
Maintain a healthy weight- clearly this goes along with eating a healthy whole food diet and moving your body. Drinking multiple glasses of water each day is also a big help.
Develop good strategies to reduce and deal with stress- meditation, yoga, exercise, and laughter all go a long way.
Monitor your blood pressure.
Remember, as soon as you notice any chances to your vision, as small as you may talk yourself into thinking they are, you need to contact us here at Perich Eye Center at once. We will get you in right away for a comprehensive dilated eye exam so you can know exactly what is going on with your eyes.
