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FAQs about Eye Diseases: What is Macular Degeneration?

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When it comes to eye diseases, most people are familiar with glaucoma and cataracts, but few know about Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

What is Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that directly affects the macula, the small area of the retina that is responsible for central vision. AMD occurs in two forms:

  • Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (common): Tiny yellow deposits, called drusen, develop beneath the macula, signaling degeneration and thinning of nerve tissue.
  • Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (less common): Abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the macula, leaking blood and fluid onto and underneath the retina. This kills retinal cells, causing blurring, distortion, and blank spots in your field of vision.

Interesting Macular Degenerations Facts & Statistics

  • More than 13 million Americans are affected by AMD.
  • Nearly 90% of all diagnosed AMD is the dry form.
  • About 10% of cases of dry macular degeneration develop into the wet, or neovascular, form of AMD.
  • Globally, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss and is responsible for some 50% of visual impairment.
  • AMD is uncommon in people younger than 55.
  • Women are slightly more likely than men to develop AMD.
  • Studies show that obesity, smoking, and exposure to UV rays may also be risk factors for developing AMD.

Signs and Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

In its early stages, AMD may not present any signs or symptoms. As the eye disease progresses, however, signs and symptoms become much more prevalent and include:

  • The distortion or blurring of central vision
  • Difficulty performing everyday tasks like driving or reading
  • Inability to see small details or fine print
  • Difficulty recognizing faces
  • Need for more light while reading or working
  • Dark or blurry areas in the center of vision (blind spots)
  • Changed color perception
  • Inability to focus properly on a single point within a grid

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, contact your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – at your earliest convenience. The early detection of macular degeneration is critical to the long-term treatment of the eye disease.

Recent innovations in AMD treatment can slow or even halt the progression of retinal changes.

“There are good modern treatments available for patients who lose vision due to AMD,” said board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Cuong Vu of Retina Associates. “[But] early detection and prevention are the keys to success.”

To learn more about Macular Degeneration, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sources:

Macular Degeneration Health Center

Eye Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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Eye allergies can be an annoying complication of seasonal changes but there’s important information that can help you treat those symptoms. An allergic reaction affecting the conjunctiva, the clear layer overlying the eye, is commonly referred to as allergic conjunctivitis. There are several subtypes/subdivisions of allergic conjunctivitis, with the most common being seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC). Both SAC and PAC are triggered by an immune reaction involving a particular allergen.

Common allergens include: pollen, grass, weeds, dust, and pet dander.

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How to Choose an Eye Doctor

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When you think of seeing an eye doctor, it is easy to get confused as to the differences between optometrists and ophthalmologists. While they provide some of the same services, there are also several major differences. Once you understand these differences, it’s easy to determine when you need to see an optometrist and when a visit to the ophthalmologist is in order.
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Back to School Eye Exams

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Back to School Eye Exams

According to ThinkAboutYourEyes.com, five to 10 percent of preschoolers and 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems. However, many of these go undetected because children are often unable to articulate when and if they have an issue. This is because many children are actually unaware of the problem themselves, having lived with these issues their entire lives. Quite simply, these children do not know what normal vision looks like. This is why the American Optometric Association has compiled a list of warning signs to help detect potential eye problems in children. These warning signs include:

  • Sitting close to the TV

  • Squinting

  • Excessive blinking

  • Holding reading materials close to the face

  • Tilting their head

  • Rubbing the eyes frequently

  • Failure to maintain eye contact

  • Turning of an eye in or out

  • Inability to maintain a gaze (fixation) while looking at objects

  • Sensitivity to light

  • Difficulty with eye-hand-body coordination

  • Avoiding coloring activities, puzzles, and other detailed activities

  • Poor eye tracking skills

  • Delayed motor development

If you notice any of these warning signs, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – as soon as possible. Early identification of a child’s vision problem is crucial. Yet, nearly 50 percent of parents with children under the age of six have never taken their child to the eye doctor, according to ThinkAboutYourEyes.com. Perhaps even more surprising, 60 percent of parents don’t feel eye exams are an essential part of a child’s healthy checkup schedule, and 50 percent believe on children who need glasses/contacts should regularly see an eye doctor. However, if left undetected many childhood vision problems can be mistakenly diagnosed as a learning disorder, or worse, can eventually cause permanent vision loss. This is why the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus recommend the following:

  • Newborn: It is recommended that all newborns undergo a red reflex test, which is a basic indicator that a baby’s eyes are normal.

  • Infant: A second vision screening is recommended between six months and one year old.

  • Preschooler: It is recommended to have a child’s eye alignment and visual acuity tested between the ages of 3 and 4.

  • School age: It is important to have a child’s vision tested upon entering school or whenever a vision problem is suspected.

Eye exams for children are important for normal vision development and academic achievement, as vision is closely linked to the learning process.

The Anne Arundel Eye Center

The Anne Arundel Eye Center, led by board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and cataracts. Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, AAEC’s state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

Schedule an Appointment Today!

As part of our comprehensive medical evaluation, we will be happy to provide you with a referral to an optometrist or ophthalmologist who can fit you for glasses or contacts or provide Lasik services.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Samuel Boles, Dr. Nicole Kershner, Dr. Kathryn Turner, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010. AAEC is staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals who will help guide you on your healing journey.

Anne Arundel Eye Center opens an Eastern Shore Office

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You depend on your vision for nearly everything you do. So why not depend on Anne Arundel Eye Center and Maryland’s top physicians to care for it? Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center are dedicated to the health and happiness of you, our patients.

To better support the community and our physician referrals, we have opened a second location on the Eastern Shore.

Anne Arundel Eye Center – Eastern Shore

1630 Main Street, Suite 210

Chester, MD 21619

We invite you to visit us at our Eastern Shore office, offering the same great services and team! Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, our state-of-the-art treatment centers are dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

Anne Arundel Eye Center’s Eastern Shore office is located in the Anne Arundel Medical Center Building, next to the Fire House in Queen Anne County.

Anne Arundel Eye Center provides complete medical eye exams as well as diagnostic surgical eye care. This comprehensive approach ensures you access to the most current information and resources available regarding eye care conditions, including:

When you visit Anne Arundel Eye Center, you can be assured you’re in expert hands.

To learn more about the Anne Arundel Eye Center – Eastern Shore office or to schedule an appointment, please contact us by calling 410-224-2010 or visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

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