What are the early warning signs of Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness and vision impairment, and therefore a very serious eye condition you need to be aware of. This disease usually occurs in people over the age of 50, but can begin to develop as young as 40. Understanding what some of the early signs of macular degeneration can be can go a long way to help you detect this early for your best ability to manage and control the condition.

Macular degeneration typically manifests with only mild symptoms, such as slight blurriness or vision distortion. The symptoms of macular degeneration will get worse over time, which makes it extremely important to have an eye exam as soon as you notice anything even slightly wrong with your vision.

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. You never want to take a chance on your eyes as you only get two of them.

So, what are the early warning signs of macular degeneration?

First, it is important to understand that there are actually two types of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Both can lead to blindness however generally have different symptoms that may be hard to distinguish between especially in the early stages. Although, wet macular degeneration can develop and progress extraordinarily fast.

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.

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.

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.

Are some people more at risk to get macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration is also referred to as age related macular degeneration or AMD or ARMD. This is because the condition by and large comes on as we age, commonly seen in middle age and elderly patients. The risk for macular degeneration does increase with age. Other risk factors include:

• Smokers

• Overweight

• Race- more commonly seen in Caucasians

• Genetics- a family history of the disease

• Gender- females are more likely than males

• High Blood Pressure

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.