How to Help Prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration

As we get older, there are various age-related eye diseases that your eye doctor will be looking out for during your regular eye checks. One of these is known as macular degeneration, a progressive problem that affects both near and far vision. In some cases, it can cause blindness.Read on to find out about age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the steps you can take to help reduce your risk of being affected.

All About Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• The different types of Macular Degeneration
• Other age-related eye disease

The different types of Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is more common as you age, affecting the part of the eye responsible for central vision, called the macular. There are two different types: wet and dry.

• Dry macular degeneration: This is the most common type and is the least severe of the two. It’s caused by the thinning of the cells that make up the macular. Progression tends to be slow, with the early stages being asymptomatic.
• Wet macular degeneration: This occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the back of the eye. They are weak and can easily fracture and leak fluid into the macular. This can cause a sudden deterioration in vision. In some cases, dry macular degeneration can progress into wet.

Other age-related eye disease

Many other eye diseases become more prevalent as we age. These include:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Retinal holes and tears
• Diabetic retinopathy

The key to treating all age-related eye diseases, including AMD, is regular eye checks. This means any problems are noted at the earliest stage and effective treatment is carried out when needed.

How to Lower the Risk of Age-Related Eye Disease

• From healthy life choices to eye protection

From healthy life choices to eye protection

In addition to having annual eye exams, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of suffering from AMD in later life:

• Wear good quality sunglasses when outside
• Quit smoking
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Eat a good diet rich in dark leafy greens
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol within healthy levels
• Take nutritional supplements if needed

If there’s a hereditary link to AMD, so if a parent or sibling has been diagnosed, then your risk factor is elevated. This makes taking proactive steps to help prevent the condition is even more important. In such cases, partnering with an age-related macular degeneration ophthalmologist would be a wise move. Although it’s not a given that you’ll develop AMD, it means that you’re under the care of the right professional, should the worst happen. The eye doctor will be familiar with the health of your eyes, and you’ll be in good hands should you go on to develop the condition.If you are diagnosed, there are various treatments available. These include those for dry AMD that are designed to help halt the progression, as well as laser treatments that can target more severe, wet AMD issues. The latter utilizes the very latest technology and is proving very successful in improving vision in cases that, until recently, didn’t have any definitive treatment options.

Suffer from or Worried About Macular Degeneration? Partner with the WBEC for the Ultimate Eye Care

The treatment of age-related eye diseases, including Macular Degeneration, is s specialty at the West Boca Eye Center. As a world-leading clinical institution, AMD treatments are cutting-edge, affording patients with the very best chance of slowing or halting any progression. Led by renowned ophthalmologist, Brent Bellotte MD., the WBEC is the chosen eye care clinic of those who demand nothing but the very best for their visual health.  Find out more about the treatments for Macular Degeneration and other age-related eye diseases at https://westbocaeyecenter.com/services/macular-degeneration/As we get older, there are various age-related eye diseases that your eye doctor will be looking out for during your regular eye checks. One of these is known as macular degeneration, a progressive problem that affects both near and far vision. In some cases, it can cause blindness. Read on to find out about age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the steps you can take to help reduce your risk of being affected.

All About Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• The different types of Macular Degeneration
• Other age-related eye disease

The different types of Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is more common as you age, affecting the part of the eye responsible for central vision, called the macular. There are two different types: wet and dry.

• Dry macular degeneration: This is the most common type and is the least severe of the two. It’s caused by the thinning of the cells that make up the macular. Progression tends to be slow, with the early stages being asymptomatic.
• Wet macular degeneration: This occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the back of the eye. They are weak and can easily fracture and leak fluid into the macular. This can cause a sudden deterioration in vision. In some cases, dry macular degeneration can progress into wet.

Other age-related eye disease

Many other eye diseases become more prevalent as we age. These include:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Retinal holes and tears
• Diabetic retinopathy

The key to treating all age-related eye diseases, including AMD, is regular eye checks. This means any problems are noted at the earliest stage and effective treatment is carried out when needed.

How to Lower the Risk of Age-Related Eye Disease

• From healthy life choices to eye protection

From healthy life choices to eye protection

In addition to having annual eye exams, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of suffering from AMD in later life:

• Wear good quality sunglasses when outside
• Quit smoking
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Eat a good diet rich in dark leafy greens
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol within healthy levels
• Take nutritional supplements if needed

If there’s a hereditary link to AMD, so if a parent or sibling has been diagnosed, then your risk factor is elevated. This makes taking proactive steps to help prevent the condition is even more important. In such cases, partnering with an age-related macular degeneration ophthalmologist would be a wise move. Although it’s not a given that you’ll develop AMD, it means that you’re under the care of the right professional, should the worst happen. The eye doctor will be familiar with the health of your eyes, and you’ll be in good hands should you go on to develop the condition.If you are diagnosed, there are various treatments available. These include those for dry AMD that are designed to help halt the progression, as well as laser treatments that can target more severe, wet AMD issues. The latter utilizes the very latest technology and is proving very successful in improving vision in cases that, until recently, didn’t have any definitive treatment options.

Suffer from or Worried About Macular Degeneration? Partner with the WBEC for the Ultimate Eye Care

The treatment of age-related eye diseases, including Macular Degeneration, is s specialty at the West Boca Eye Center. As a world-leading clinical institution, AMD treatments are cutting-edge, affording patients with the very best chance of slowing or halting any progression. Led by renowned ophthalmologist, Brent Bellotte MD., the WBEC is the chosen eye care clinic of those who demand nothing but the very best for their visual health. Find out more about the treatments for Macular Degeneration and other age-related eye diseases at https://westbocaeyecenter.com/services/macular-degeneration/