Macular Degeneration Awareness in Yardley
As you get older, your risk of getting a condition known as macular degeneration increases. This is the top cause of permanent vision loss in older individuals, so it is important for you to know as much about this disease as possible. At Yardley Eye Care, we can diagnose this disease and treat it to reduce the risk of vision loss.
What Is Macular Degeneration?
This is an eye condition that slowly develops over time in many cases. In more advanced or severe cases, gradual vision loss occurs as the macula in your eyes becomes thinner. There are two types of this disease, known as wet and dry macular degeneration. The dry type is more common and can lead to wet macular degeneration over time. Dry macular degeneration often causes fuzzy or blurry central vision as it gets worse. Wet macular degeneration, which involves the growth of new blood vessels, can cause sudden vision loss and is considered an emergency.
Causes and Prevention
The aging process and genetics are the main causes of macular degeneration. Your risk is also higher if you smoke, are obese or have high blood pressure. There is no guaranteed way to prevent this disease. However, you can take steps to lower your risk of developing it. These include eating a healthy diet with plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, exercising on a regular basis and wearing sunglasses in order to prevent damage from the sun’s rays.
Treatment in Yardley
If you have macular degeneration, our eye doctor in Yardley can go over treatment options. These generally involve making nutritional changes to slow the progression of this disease if you have dry macular degeneration or taking medications to stop blood vessel growth if you have the wet type.
Contact Our Optometrist in Yardley
If you need to be checked for macular degeneration or if you are due for an eye exam, please contact Yardley Eye Care to make an appointment. Our optometrist in Yardley can check for early signs of this disease and discuss treatment options. Keep in mind that we offer other optometry services as well.