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Macular Degeneration

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Macular Degeneration, also referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in Americans 60 years of age and older. This eye disease, which affects the part of the retina (the macula) responsible for the sharp, central vision, comes in two types – dry (non-neovascular) and wet (neovascular).

•     The dry form, which is the more common of the two types (accounting for 85-90% of AMD cases), is characterized by the presence of yellow deposits, called drusen, in the macula. As these drusen grow in size and number, they may lead to a dimming or distortion of vision.

•     The wet form is characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels from the choroid underneath the macula. These blood vessels leak blood and other fluid into the retina, causing distorted vision that makes straight lines appear wavy, as well as loss of central vision. These abnormal blood vessels eventually scar, leading to permanent loss of central vision.

Macular Degeneration tends to affect Caucasians and females more than other demographics. Additional risk factors include:

•     Aging

•     Obesity and Inactivity. Overweight patients with macular degeneration have more than double the risk of developing advanced forms of macular degeneration compared with people of normal body weight.

•     Heredity. Recent studies have found that specific variants of different genes are present in most people who have macular degeneration.

•     High Blood Pressure (Hypertension). High blood pressure may be associated with development of macular degeneration.

•     Smoking. One study found smoking to be directly associated with about 25 percent of AMD cases causing severe vision loss.

•     Lighter Eye Color. Some researchers have theorized that the extra pigment found in darker eyes was a protective factor against the development of the eye disease.

The symptoms of macular degeneration include:

•     Straight lines start to appear distorted, or the center of vision becomes distorted

•     Dark, blurry areas or white out appears in the center of vision

•     Diminished or changed color perception

If you experience any of these symptoms, see your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Regular eye exams can help to detect macular degeneration before it causes significant vision loss. While there is no cure for AMD, treatment can slow vision loss.

Treatment options include:

Anti-angiogenesis drugs: These medications block the development of new blood vessels and leakage from the abnormal vessels within the eye that cause wet macular degeneration.

Vitamins: A recent study found that vitamins C, E, beta carotene, zinc and copper can decrease the risk of vision loss in patients with intermediate to advanced dry macular degeneration.

Laser therapy: High-energy laser light can sometimes be used to destroy actively growing abnormal blood vessels that occur in macular degeneration.

Photodynamic laser therapy: A two-step treatment in which a light sensitive drug is used to damage the abnormal blood vessels. A doctor injects the drug into the bloodstream to be absorbed by the abnormal blood vessels in the eye. The doctor then shines a cold laser into the eye to activate the drug, damaging the abnormal blood vessels.

Low vision aids: Devices that have special lenses or electronic systems that produce enlarged images of nearby objects.

Submacular surgery (experimental): Surgery to remove the abnormal blood vessels or blood.

Retinal translocation (experimental): A surgical procedure used to destroy abnormal blood vessels that are located directly under the center of the macula, where a laser beam cannot be placed safely.

Currently, about 1.75 million U.S. residents currently have advanced age-related macular degeneration with associated vision loss, with that number expected to grow to almost 3 million by 2020.

If you feel you may be at risk, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible. As with any eye disease, early detection and treatment are your best options.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

You can follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Macular Degeneration Medline Plus

Age-related Macular Degeneration All About Vision

Eye Health: Macular Degeneration WebMD

Dr. Boles Explains How to Choose Your Eye Doctor in Maryland Women’s Journal

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In April, 2010 in the Maryland Women’s Journal there was an excellent piece about choosing your eye doctor written by Anne Arundel Eye Center’s own, Dr. Samuel Boles. He penned an insightful and informative article to help with this decision.

 

He explains: “ 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.”

What is an Optometrist?

An optometrist is a Doctor of Optometry, also known as an O.D. To be an optometrist, one must complete four years of college or undergraduate education followed by four years in a college of optometry. All optometrists must pass a series of rigorous nationally-administered exams to earn their license. Some optometrists will also complete a one-year post-graduate residency to gain more specialized expertise in a particular area.

Optometrists are licensed to do the following:

  • Examine and diagnose eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts and retinal diseases.
  • Diagnose systemic conditions that may affect the eyes, including diabetes and hypertension.
  • Examine, diagnose and treat visual conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.
  • Prescribe contact lenses and glasses, vision therapy and medications such as antibiotics.
  • Perform minor surgical procedures such as the removal of a foreign body.

What is an Ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (an M.D.) who specializes in the medical treatment of the eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to provide the full spectrum of eye care, from prescribing glasses to eye surgery. They may also be involved in medical research of the eye structure as well as diseases of the eye.

After medical school, every ophthalmologist completes a three-year residency in general ophthalmology. During residency, they receive special training in all aspects of eye care, including prevention, diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of eye conditions and diseases. Some ophthalmologists spend an additional year or two training in a specific area of eye care to become a specialist.

While the routine care provided by ophthalmologists and optometrists is now very similar, there are several major differences. They are:

  • Optometrists spend additional time and attention to contact lens fitting and care.
  • Optometrists are uniquely positioned to fit and prescribe glasses and care for refractive disorders.
  • Ophthalmologists are trained to perform surgery, including Lasik vision correction, removal of cataracts, retinal detachment surgery eye reconstructive surgery and more.
  • Ophthalmologists have additional specialized training in diagnosing and treating more complex medical eye conditions.
  • Ophthalmologists can prescribe a wider range of prescription drugs for specific eye problems and diseases unlike optometrists.
  • Exams by Ophthalmologists are more likely to be covered by general medical insurance rather than Vision Insurance.”

 

Dr Boles gives a very clear distinction between the different types of care here. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center to meet with cataracts and glaucoma specialist Dr. Samuel Boles, or if you simply have a questions about what you have just read, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

You can follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube as well!

 

 

 

Treating the Common Problem of Dry Eyes

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Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem.

As we age, tear production diminishes, leaving most individuals over the age of 65 with at least some symptoms of dry eye. Yet, dry eye is not just a medical condition that affects the elderly. Other causes of the common eye problem include: medications like antihistamines, blood pressure medicine and antidepressants; medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and thyroid problems; inflammation of the eye surface or eyelids as well as abnormal turning of the eyelids; smoke, wind and dry climates; long-term use of contact lenses; and refractive eye surgeries such as LASIK.

Symptoms of dry eye include:

•     Stinging

•     Burning

•     Scratchiness

•     Stringy mucus

•     Excessive irritation from smoke and wind

•     Discomfort when wearing contact lenses

•     Watering eyes

If you feel you may be suffering from dry eye, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor right away. Dry eye can be diagnosed through a comprehensive patient history and eye exam as well as with the help of tests that measure tear production and eye surface dryness.

If you are diagnosed with dry eye, you have several treatment options. You can add tears with over-the-counter artificial tear solutions, conserve tears by temporarily or permanently blocking the tear ducts, increase tear production with prescription eye drops, or you can treat the contributing eyelid or ocular surface inflammation.

You can also attempt to reduce the symptoms of dry eye by…

•     Blinking regularly when reading or staring at a computer for long periods of time

•     Increasing the level of humidity in the air

•     Wearing sunglasses

•     Staying hydrated

•     Using nutritional supplements containing essential fatty acids

Should your dry eye problem persist or continue to cause discomfort, be sure to contact your eye doctor for more information and treatment. If you have any questions about what you have just read, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

You can follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as well!

Dr. Nathan T. Frank Joins Anne Arundel Eye Center

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Dr. Samuel F. Boles and the rest of the Anne Arundel Eye Center staff are happy to welcome board certified Optometrist Dr. Nathan T. Frank to their ever-growing practice.

“We are an established practice that continuously welcomes new patients and we are very excited to have a physician with Dr. Frank’s background and specialty experience join our staff, to help us continue to provide the utmost care and education within the community,” Dr. Boles said.

That care and education that Dr. Boles mentions is the reason that Anne Arundel Eye Center is proud of its growth over the past five years, now serving over 6,000 patients. The state-of-the-art treatment center, which specializes in glaucoma and cataracts diagnosis and treatment, hired Dr. Frank to support that increased patient base.

Dr. Frank completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Wyoming in 2004 and received his doctorate in Optometry at Pacific University in 2008. As part of his training, Dr. Frank held clinical externships at Alaska Eye Care Center, Arizona; Pacific University College of Optometry, Oregon; Fort Washakie Indian Health Services, Wyoming; Alaska Eye Center, Alaska; and attended weekly grand round lectures at the Wilmer Eye Center at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Frank completed his residency with the Maryland-based eye care center Seidenberg and Protzko Eye Associates with an emphasis on ocular disease, pediatrics and refractive surgery.

Before relocating to Annapolis, Maryland with his wife Lesleigh, a pediatric occupational therapist at Kennedy Krieger, Dr. Frank was owner and optometric physician at DV Eyecare LLC in La Grande, Oregon – a practice providing primary care, contact lens services, and medical optometry. Dr. Frank is a former member of the Oregon Optometric Association and current member of the American Optometric Association, the Maryland Optometric Association, and the Optometric Nutrition Society. He has recently published two Posters – “Bilateral Acute Retinal Necrosis Secondary to HSV-2” and “Bleb Associated Pseudomonal Endophthalmitis.”

Anne Arundel Eye center is delighted to welcome such a highly qualified Optometrist to its practice. Dr. Frank was brought in to help the center handle its increased patient base, while furthering Anne Arundel Eye Center’s commitment to providing comprehensive eye care services, specializing in cataract and glaucoma diagnosis and treatment.

Anne Arundel Eye Center is located at 127 Lubrano Drive, Suite 301, Annapolis, MD, 21401 across from Annapolis Mall. For patient appointment information, please call (410) 224-2010 or visit them at www.AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.

You can follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube as well!

What You Should Know About Diabetic Retinopathy

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Diabetes affects more than 23.6 million people in the United States alone – meaning that 7.8% of the population has the disease. Of these individuals, between 40 to 45 percent have some degree of Diabetic Retinopathy, the most common progressive eye disease resulting from long-term diabetes. Diabetic Retinopathy, which damages to the blood vessels in the eye, is also the leading cause of blindness in American adults.

It is extremely important for those with diabetes to not only seek regular medical care, but also regular eye exams (at least once a year), as well. If caught early enough, Diabetic Retinopathy is very treatable. However, if you wait until you experience symptoms of the disease, it may be too late to reverse the damage, though worsening of Diabetic Retinopathy may be slowed with treatment even in advanced stages of the disease.

Symptoms may include: 

  • Blurred vision
  • Shadows or loss of areas of vision
  • Difficulty seeing at nighttime

In the early stages of Diabetic Retinopathy, no symptoms occur, making the disease almost impossible to diagnose without the help of a professional. This is why regular eye exams are so important.

There are two types (stages) of the disease:

Non-proliferative (the first stage): Enlarged blood vessels and fluid/blood leaking into the retina cause problems with eyesight.

Proliferative (advanced):  New blood vessels form in the eye and hemorrhage, causing scarring on the retina and other parts of the eye.  This results in many problems with sight and can lead to complete vision loss.

While new treatment options are in development as scientists work toward a better understanding of this disease, regular eye exams and early detection remain your best options for fighting Diabetic Retinopathy.

If you have any questions, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

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