Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Fundamental Facts About Macular Degeneration Washington DC

By Patricia Long


Macular degeneration is the leading cause of loss of vision. The macular is part of the retina, which is the back part of the eye that turns images into signals which go to the brain. When the macular begins to break down, there will be trouble seeing details clearly. For instance, you could see outline of a clock but not its hands. When it comes to macular degeneration Washington DC residents need to know what it entails.

Early symptoms will include having blurred vision and having problems seeing colors or finer details. As the condition worsens, one might end up losing their center vision. That will mean they will have problems doing such things as driving and even telling apart faces of people. That would mean brighter light is needed to see clearly. Judgment of distances will also not be easy. For others, there will be visual hallucinations.

There has never been any clarity as to what causes the condition. However, there is a connection with genetics. People that have it in their family are more likely to be affected. There is also the effect of lifestyle. For example, you will find that smokers have increased probability of suffering from it compared to non-smokers. There are two types of macular degeneration - wet and dry. The wet type is not as common.

The diagnosis for the condition is important. There will be eye drops placed in the eyes to dilate the pupils. This makes it possible for the doctor to use an ophthalmoscope for looking for any fatty deposits or any signs of trouble at the back of the retina. Having yearly eye exams will help doctors to spot early signs before one experiences symptoms.

There are different options of treatment. The use of lasers is an option. With the use of lasers, the doctor points lasers at extra blood vessels that are in the eyes so as to break them up. There could also be use of photodynamic therapy whereby there is placement of a light-sensitive drug into the body via the veins. The veins in the arms are used for that. There is then triggering of the drug using lasers so that there is destruction of blood vessels which are leading to the problem. For advanced cases, doctors might suggest that lens are replaced with a pea-sized telescope.

There are various devices that one can use to be able to go about daily activities with ease. There is the option of having a telescope placed on your glasses so that objects that are far away can be seen with ease. There is computer software that is able to convert words on screens into speech. Through the use of CCTV magnifiers, it will be possible to see small writings like those in books or small objects.

There is never a cure for the condition, just ways of reducing symptoms. Nevertheless, one should lead a healthy lifestyle so that it does not advance fast and so that symptoms do not worsen. There should be regular exercise and the use of sunglasses to protect the eyes. For those that smoke, it is advisable to quit. As regards diet, one should eat foods rich in vegetables and fish.

The condition should start being managed in time. That is where periodic tests come in handy. People are advised to see eye doctors every once in a while.




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