Palmetto Eye & Laser Center

RETINA DISORDERS

Your retina is located at the back of your eye. Although it is a thin, light-sensitive tissue, it packs a punch: it is responsible for controlling how you see images. In an ideal eye, images focus on the retina and those images are converted into electrical impulses that are transmitted through the optic nerve to the brain. It makes sense, that any damage to the retina will result in vision problems ranging from blurriness to spots to decreased central vision and even blindness.

TYPES OF RETINAL DISEASES

There are many different types of retinal diseases including, but not limited to:

  • Macular degeneration
  • Retinal detachment
  • Retinal tears
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Retinal vein occlusion
  • Macular edema
  • Macular hole

At Palmetto Eye & Laser Center our doctors offer treatment for retinal diseases. The treatment will depend on which part of the retina is affected, how severe the problem is and what is causing the problem. A comprehensive dilated eye exam will help your doctor diagnose the issue and recommend treatment options.

If you are experiencing any vision problems, don’t wait until your vision is permanently lost. Contact us today to schedule an eye exam.

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MACULAR DEGENERATION

Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss in the United States. It is a progressive disease that affects the macula, the center part of the retina (the back of the eye).

The light-sensitive retinal tissue controls how you see images: as images focus on the retina they are converted into electrical impulses that travel to the brain via the optic nerve. If there is damage or deterioration of the macula, your central vision will be disrupted.

Central vision is vital to perform common daily tasks such as reading, driving, recognizing faces and seeing fine details.

Many older people develop macular degeneration as part of the natural aging process. There are different kinds of macular problems, but the most common is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This disease is most common in people over 60, but can appear as early as age 40. If you are over age 60, routine eye exams can diagnose early signs of this degenerative eye disease.

MACULAR DEGENERATION SYMPTOMS

Macular degeneration affects central vision, but not typically peripheral vision. In the early stages you may not have any outward symptoms. As the disease progresses you may experience:

  • Blurriness
  • Dark areas
  • Distortion (typically straight lines or objects appearing wavy or crooked)
  • Permanent loss of central vision

TYPES OF MACULAR DEGENERATION

  • Dry Macular Degeneration: accounts for 90% of all cases and progresses slowly.  It is caused by the build-up of yellow drusen deposits under the macula that causes the macula to thin and dry out.
  • Wet Macular Degeneration: this is a more serious form that causes severe, rapid vision loss. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula. If they leak blood or fluid, this will cause the macula to become distorted.

ways to prevent Amd:

  • Wear UV protection sunglasses when outdoors
  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Stop smoking

Over 200,000 cases of macular degeneration are diagnosed every year in the United States. The condition is estimated to affect 15 million Americans.

If you are experiencing any central vision problems, don’t wait until your vision is permanently lost. Contact us today to schedule an eye exam.

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