February is National Age-Related Macular Degeneration Month, and Dr. Jeffrey Whitman recently made an appearance on Good Morning Texas to discuss why it’s so important to keep an eye out for this condition, which is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over 60 years old.As Dr. Whitman explains, macular degeneration is a fairly common eye condition that can cause vision to progressively worsen and become blurry. It occurs when the membrane of the retina – the part of the eye that receives visual messages and communicates to our brain – begins to deteriorate.
Because macular degeneration can significantly affect one’s vision and impact quality of life, early detection and treatment become crucial. Fortunately, the condition can be detected during regular eye exams, and here at Key-Whitman Eye Center, our doctors are experts at recognizing this problem and recommending further testing, such as optical coherent tomography, if needed.
Because early detection and diagnosis are important, you should never neglect regular eye exams. You should also be aware of common signs of macular degeneration, including:
- Straight lines that begin to appear wavy
- Blurry areas in the center of you vision
- Diminished or changed color perception
Treatment is often dependent on the type of macular degeneration, but treatments are available, including high technology medication treatments that can essentially stop the condition in its tracks. Treatment options and preventive measures include:
- Ocular antioxidant vitamins
- Eating leafy green vegetables
- Exercising
- Avastin injections
- Laser therapy
If you have more questions about macular degeneration or wish to schedule an eye exam, Key-Whitman Eye Center is here to help! We serve patients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area from multiple office locations!
