Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 50. It is more commonly known as age-related macular degeneration because it primarily affects older people. However, you can still develop the condition when you are younger because of certain circumstances. 

Despite experts crediting it as the leading cause of blindness, it does not cause total blindness. It affects central vision, but your peripheral vision usually remains intact. It becomes difficult to recognize faces, drive to read, and operate normally.

How Do Eye Doctors Diagnose Macular Degeneration?

You could have one of the two forms of macular degeneration: dry or wet. Dry macular degeneration can exist in three stages. Wet macular degeneration is always considered the advanced stage since it is more damaging. 

When diagnosing the condition, the eye doctor will have a look at your family and medical history. They will then perform a comprehensive eye exam to determine whether you have the condition. After these, they will perform other specialty tests to determine which form of the condition you have. The most common tests are:

• Retina Exam

The eye doctor will use eye drops to dilate your pupil so they can look into your eye. They will use a unique device that will allow them to see the retina in detail. They will be looking for the signs of drusen forming at the macula. Drusen are small protein deposits common in patients with dry macular degeneration. 

• Central Vision Tests

Another test is to determine whether you have developed issues with your central vision. Eye doctors use an Amsler grid test to determine issues with central vision. The grid lines may appear broken or distorted if you have macular degeneration.

• Optical Coherence Tomography

It is a test whose main objective is to identify parts of the retina that may be thinning or swelling. It does this by providing detailed images of the cross-section of the retina. It helps identify if there is fluid accumulating beneath the retina.

• Fluorescein Angiography

It uses a dye injected into your arm that travels to your eyes. The dye colors all the blood vessels in your eyes—useful for determining whether you have wet macular degeneration. When the dye reaches your eyes, the eye doctor uses a special camera to image the blood vessels in your eyes. 

• Indocyanine Green Angiography

It uses a dye and may be used with a fluorescein angiogram. Eye doctors use it to determine the specific macular degeneration you have. 

Treatments for Macular Degeneration

There is no known treatment for dry macular degeneration. All treatments available work for wet macular degeneration.

• Anti-angiogenic Medication

These drugs stop the formation of abnormal blood vessels and block any leaking ones. It is a treatment for wet macular degeneration. Patients who use this treatment report restored vision that they lost. The treatment requires several sessions and continuous application. 

• Laser Treatment

Laser treatment works to destroy abnormal blood vessels growing at the retina.

• Photodynamic Laser Treatment

It destroys abnormal blood vessels in the retina through a two-step strategy. The eye doctor injects light-sensitive medication that flows to your eyes. Then they use a laser to activate the medication, which destroys the blood vessels.

• Visual Aids

If you have dry macular degeneration, you can explore low-vision rehabilitation options. You can get special visual aids to help you operate better globally.

For more, visit General Vision Express Lens Lab at our office in Brooklyn, New York. Call (718) 486-6055​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ to book an appointment.