Macular degeneration can significantly impact your ability to perform everyday activities like reading, driving, and even recognizing faces. It’s one of the leading causes of vision loss among people over the age of 50, but it can develop slowly, meaning it’s often hard to notice until the damage is done.
The early warning signs of macular degeneration often include blurred central vision, difficulty seeing in dim light, or straight lines appearing wavy. Your optometrist can investigate these symptoms and identify macular degeneration with a comprehensive eye exam, making regular checkups a vital first step toward preserving your vision.
At Cowichan Eyecare, we offer state of the art Retinal Rejuvenation including MacuMira, which helps patients living with AMD preserve their vision for longer.
What Is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration, often referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a progressive eye condition that affects the macula—the central portion of your retina, responsible for sharp, detailed vision. AMD can significantly impair central vision, which is necessary for tasks like recognizing faces and driving.
There are primarily 2 types of AMD: dry and wet.
Dry AMD
Dry AMD is the most common form, accounting for about 80% of all cases. It occurs when the macula thins with age, or lipid and protein clumps called drusen form, causing the cells in the retina to break down.
Vision loss in dry AMD tends to progress over 3 stages: early, intermediate, and late. Early AMD often has no symptoms, though your optometrist can diagnose the condition with an eye exam by looking for these drusen deposits.
Wet AMD
Wet AMD is less common but more severe, with about 1 in 10 people with dry AMD developing the wet form. This is when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina, leaking blood and fluid that damages retinal tissues. This type of AMD can cause rapid and more noticeable vision loss compared to dry AMD.
A quick diagnosis is vital when it comes to treating wet AMD.
Early Warning Signs of Macular Degeneration
Recognizing macular degeneration can be difficult, but it’s worth it! Both dry and wet AMD cause irreversible damage, so treatment focuses on prevention, slowing progression and rapid action when necessary.
Here are some symptoms to look out for:
- Blurred central vision: Difficulty focusing on text or faces may indicate changes in your macula.
- Difficulty seeing in dim light: Struggling to adjust to low-light environments, like a dimly lit room or at night. You may need brighter light to read or perform close-up tasks.
- Distorted vision: Straight lines, like doorframes or edges of tables, may appear wavy or bent, a common sign of wet AMD or intermediate dry AMD. You can test this at home using an Amsler grid.
- Dark or empty spots in central vision: A black or gray smudge in your central field of vision can develop.
If you notice any of these warning signs, talk to your optometrist. They have a wide range of tools to examine your eyes and look for signs you can’t see.
Dark Adaptation Testing for Macular Degeneration
Dark adaptation testing is a simple and innovative way to check how well your eyes adjust to low light—one of the first skills macular degeneration affects. The test is quick and noninvasive. After being exposed to bright light, your optometrist will have you look into a special device that measures how long it takes your eyes to adapt to darkness. This gives important insights into your retina’s health.
What’s great about this test is that difficulties with dark adaptation often show up before other symptoms, meaning this test can detect macular degeneration earlier than we’ve ever been able to before. Detecting it early allows you and your doctor to take action sooner, which can make a huge difference in prognosis and treatment. Dark adaptation testing is available at our Westhills location.
Preventing and Treating Macular Degeneration
While there is no cure for AMD, adopting a proactive approach can delay its progression and improve daily life. Even though macular degeneration is commonly linked to aging, it can affect younger people, so it’s never too early to manage your eye health. Here are some tips to help:
- Protect your eyes from UV rays: Always wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays when outdoors. This can significantly reduce the strain on your eyes.
- Quit smoking: If you smoke, make quitting a priority. Not only will it improve your overall health, but it will also protect your eyes.
- Maintain a healthy diet: Eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids from fish, and the macular carotenoids (lutein, meso-zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin) . These nutrients help support retinal health.
- Regular exercise: Physical activity promotes healthy blood circulation, which nourishes the eyes and reduces risk factors, such as high blood pressure and obesity.
When it comes to treating macular degeneration, your optometrist will make recommendations based on the type and stage of AMD that you have.
Wet AMD can be treated with anti-VEGF drugs or laser surgery to seal the abnormal blood vessels. Some people with dry AMD benefit from specific supplements like AREDS2, which contain vitamins and minerals shown to slow the disease’s progression. Red light therapy (photobiomodulation) is showing promise as a form of treatment for AMD. Arunalight is a red light device that was designed specifically for ocular health.
The Benefits of MacuMira Treatment for Dry AMD
MacuMira is an innovative treatment for dry AMD, using a patented waveform headset to deliver gentle microcurrents across closed eyelids. These microcurrents stimulate the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells at the back of the eye, helping to clear macular waste that can impact vision.
Cowichan Eyecare is one of the first practices in Canada to offer this treatment. By supporting cellular repair and improving blood flow to the macula, MacuMira works to slow the progression of dry AMD, protect delicate eye structures, and enhance overall retinal function.
Keep Your Vision Strong
Life is full of moments worth seeing clearly, and maintaining your eye health is the first step toward making it happen. Whether you notice early AMD symptoms or simply want to stay ahead of your eye health, regular checkups can make all the difference.
At Cowichan Eyecare, we’re passionate about helping our patients preserve their vision from AMD. Our team uses tools, such as dark adaptation testing and MacuMira, to detect and treat conditions like macular degeneration early.Book your comprehensive eye exam today—your sight deserves it!
