Age-related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) affects around 11 million Americans. This condition leads to progressive irreversible
central vision loss. For patients over 55, we recommend yearly eye exams to detect potential conditions like ARMD. There are two types of ARMD.
Dry ARMD
occurs when a build up of metabolic debris accumulates in our macula, in the back of our eyes. Patients can range from being asymptomatic to different degrees of visual distortions. We know increasing age as well as smoking increases the risk for this condition. Wet ARMD
is more aggressive and refers to new inappropriate blood vessel growth or macular hemorrhage. Wet ARMD can profoundly impact vision making activities like reading, driving, and recognizing faces nearly impossible. Either variety of ARMD affects our central vision and can make daily tasks difficult to complete.
For patients with macular degeneration, checking their Amsler grid is important for detecting progression of ARMD at home. Additionally, taking an AREDS2 multivitamin can help slow down the worsening of macular degeneration by about 25%.
Early detection of ARMD helps patients retain their best possible vision; call 419-521-3937 to setup an appointment today!
