Macular Degeneration Specialist
-
- Tweet
Stevens Eye Care
Clayton Stevens, MD
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist located in Biloxi, MS
Dry eyes, blurry vision, or vision loss may all be signs of macular degeneration, a condition that affects the central part of the retina. To resolve these symptoms and have an exam by a qualified ophthalmologist, visit Stevens Eye Care. Dr. Clayton Stevens treats adults with macular degeneration and other chronic eye conditions in Biloxi, Mississippi. To request an appointment with Dr. Stevens, call the office or book online today.
Macular Degeneration Q&A
What is macular degeneration?
Macular degeneration is a condition that causes your eye's macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for clear vision, to wear down. This breakdown results in central vision problems, and sometimes central vision loss. In most cases, macular degeneration is caused by aging. There are two kinds of macular degeneration, dry and wet:
Dry macular degeneration
Dry macular degeneration is the most common form of macular degeneration, making up around 90% of all cases. In dry macular degeneration, your retinas collect deposits made of metabolic byproducts.
These deposits cause blurry or spotty vision. In rare cases, dry macular degeneration turns into wet macular degeneration.
Wet macular degeneration
This is the much more severe form of macular degeneration. With wet macular degeneration, the Bruch's membrane within your eye begins to deteriorate and delicate new blood vessels arise in the area.
Because the fresh blood vessels are so fragile, they leak and bleed quite easily. This causes scarring of your macula and can result in dramatically reduced central vision. Although wet macular degeneration may not cause total blindness, it can cause vision loss serious enough to qualify as legal blindness.
While macular degeneration has frightening results, the good news is that you can do a great deal to avoid the condition and manage it with the help of the team at Stevens Eye Care.
What are the signs of macular degeneration?
Some of the signs of macular degeneration include:
- Inability to see well in low light
- Blurriness in your central vision
- Visual distortions
If you have any of these signs of macular degeneration, the team at Stevens Eye Care can evaluate you and, if necessary, start treatment right away.
How is macular degeneration treated?
Although there's not currently a cure for macular degeneration, you can often prevent its progression and manage it very effectively with the help of the team at Stevens Eye Care.
Dry macular degeneration treatment focuses on extra antioxidants via supplements. By taking a specific blend of supplements, including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zinc, copper, and zeaxanthin, you may be able to delay the progression of dry macular degeneration effectively.
Wet macular degeneration treatment can include medication injected into your eye or laser surgery. Implantation of a miniature telescope in the eye may be an option for final-stage macular degeneration.
If you have macular degeneration or think you might, call Stevens Eye Care or request an appointment online today.
