What is Age-related Macular Degeneration?
Age-related macular degeneration, AMD, is one of the leading causes of vision loss in the United States, affecting more people than glaucoma and cataracts combined. This specific eye disease causes loss of central vision, making everyday activities such as driving, reading, and recognizing faces difficult.
Unfortunately, there is no known solution to this eye disease, so treatment focuses on detecting risk factors and preventing the disease from the onset. At True Eye Experts, we’re able to detect this at a very early stage, so getting an eye exam on a routine basis is a vital part of protecting your eye health.
What Causes AMD?
There are many factors, both hereditary and environmental, that can increase the risk of AMD. Factors such as obesity, increased sun exposure, smoking, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease have all been linked to the disease.
The symptoms of AMD can be hard to detect, so seeing an eye doctor is very important to ensure that your eyes are healthy. Symptoms include blurry or fuzzy vision, a blurry or gray spot in the center of your vision, wavy lines, pale colors, and objects appearing smaller than they actually are.
Who is at Risk for AMD?
AMD affects many people and often takes a while to develop from the first stage into an intermediate form of the disease. As many as 1 in 3 patients are at risk for AMD. Those who are at a higher risk for developing AMD include Caucasians, people who have light-colored eyes, those who have a poor diet, and anyone over the age of 60.
If you fit any of these factors, you may be at risk for AMD. True Eye Experts have access to advanced solutions to detect macular health issues earlier than ever.
Treatments Offered in Tampa
There are very important steps to take to decrease the possibility of AMD, including maintaining a healthy weight, wearing protective gear outside, exercising regularly, eating healthy, and getting regular screenings by your eye doctor.
At True Eye Experts, we are taking eye protection one step further by offering Macular Pigment Ocular Density (MPOD) testing to measure the amount of macular pigment in the eye, allowing our experienced eye doctors to determine your level of risk. By evaluating your pigmentation level, we will create an effective plan to combat AMD.