Bridgeport

(203) 333-2020

Stratford

(203) 377-2020

Macular Degeneration

When the Bridgeport eye doctor tells people they have macular degeneration, it's just words to them. It's a vision problem mostly for seniors in which the vision in front of the person, either far or near, is impaired. Peripheral vision, or vision to the sides, is fine. The professionals at Family Vision Center LLC – Stratford want you to know what it is and how it's treated. 

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Anatomy Of The Eye

Imagine you're looking at an old-fashioned Rolodex. The first card corresponds to the eye's cornea. The card directly behind the first is the iris or the colored part o the eye. The next card is the lens directly behind the iris or how what we see is processed.

The next card is the retina over the eyeball. This processes the light and sends vision signals to the brain. The next card is the macula which sees objects straight and clear directly ahead of the person. After all this is the optic nerve.

What Is Macular Degeneration?

To degenerate is to steadily worsen. There are two ways the macula worsens. One is to sprout more blood vessels than there should be, and they begin to leak which is called wet degeneration. The other thins out with age which is called dry degeneration. This is the more common condition.

What Are The Symptoms?

If you look forward and see nothing but darkness, then it's time to see your Bridgeport eye doctor. The shape of things you see will be unclear or wavy. Color won't be easy to see. For example, you might look at your stove, but you won't be able to see the eyes. 

How Is The Condition Treated?

With age-related degeneration, the tissue simply wears out. There is no cure for that. If it's caught in time, wet degeneration can be treated with anti-VEGF injections.

Vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF means a protein your cells make. They make new blood vessels when necessary to the body. If too many are made, your eyes become damaged.

There is some evidence, though, produced by a National Eye Institute study that using zinc, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin will slow the progression of age-related degeneration. Foods containing lutein and zeaxanthin or antioxidants include eggs and leafy green vegetables. Foods with Vitamins C and E include broccoli and kiwi. You'll find zinc in oysters, crab, lobster, beef shank, and chicken.

Eye problems are so serious that they need to be addressed at the first sign of trouble. Most of us wouldn't know what to do without our sight, but it happens to seniors every day. That's why Family Vision Center LLC – Stratford wants to see you before any eye problems begin.

Macular Degeneration FAQs

Macular degeneration is the main reason of vision loss of older Americans. Treatment is essential to reducing its effects on your sight. The experienced optometrists at the Family Vision Center located in both Bridgeport, CT and Stratford, CT are ready to help you save your vision. Here are some common questions for you to consider about macular degeneration. 

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What is Macular Degeneration?

The macula is part of the retina of your eye. Your retina is attached to the back of your eye and is responsible for sending information from the light entering your eye to the brain. The macula, being part of your retina, is involved in sending this information to your brain. The macula is responsible for your central vision, most of your color vision, and mainly responsible for the fine detail of your vision. (Other parts of your retina are responsible for peripheral vision.

There are two types of age-related macular degeneration, dry and wet.

  1. Dry macular degeneration: Dry macular degeneration may be caused by the thinning of macular tissue as a person ages. It also can be caused by deposits of pigment in the macula. It is diagnosed by the yellowish spots that accumulate in and around the macula.
  2. Wet macular degeneration: Wet macular degeneration occurs as the result of irregular blood vessels that grow beneath the retina and start leaking blood and fluid. This leaking fluid can cause permanent damage to retinal cells that receive light. These cells die off, causing blind spots to your central vision. 

What Are Some Symptoms of Macular Degeneration?

Your eye doctor may show you a grid with a dark circle in the center. They will ask you to concentrate on the center dot and see if the lines appear blurry or wavy. Distorted wavy lines are a symptom of macular degeneration. 

Other symptoms include:

  • Fuzzy or blurry vision
  • Sentences on a page appear wavy or distorted
  • Blind spots in your central vision

Your optometrist may realize you are experiencing macular degeneration before you do. When they look into your eye, they can see the health of your macula. If they determine that there may be some deterioration, they will ask questions about your vision and give you some traits to monitor.


Call us to make an appointment.

Stratford: 203-377-20/20 Bridgeport: 203-333-20/20

 

Locations

Bridgeport

Address

107 Boston Ave,
Bridgeport, CT 06610

Stratford

Address

775 Main St,
Stratford, CT 06615

Office & Optical Hours

Office Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Friday

9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Wednesday, Saturday

8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Thursday

9:00 am - 7:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Optical Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Friday

9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Wednesday, Saturday

8:30 am - 2:00 pm

Thursday

9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sunday

Closed


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