Macular Degeneration

Our Approach

At Franciscan Health, our ophthalmologists (eye specialists) diagnose dry or wet macular degeneration and recommend the appropriate treatment. We help you learn to cope with changes from macular degeneration and offer therapies to minimize vision damage.

How is macular degeneration treated?

There is no treatment for the dry form of macular degeneration. For people with dry macular degeneration, special lenses or devices may help enlarge or illuminate nearby objects. Certain vitamins may reduce the progression of macular degeneration.

Doctors may treat wet macular degeneration with a medication that prevents the growth of abnormal blood vessels. Your eye doctor may also recommend laser therapy or using photosensitive medications that are activated by a laser, although these treatments are not always successful.

What is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration causes you to lose sight in the middle of your field of vision. It develops due to deterioration of the macula (center of the retina) in the back of the eye. The macula provides sharp, straight-ahead vision, allowing you to see small detail, read fine print, recognize faces and see street signs.

Types of macular degeneration

There are two types of macular degeneration - a dry form and a wet form. About 90% of people with macular degeneration have the dry form. Most patients with the dry form will not lose central vision.

The dry form of macular degeneration can progress to the wet form. The less common wet form can cause the loss of central vision.

How is macular degeneration diagnosed?

Your eye doctor can diagnose macular degeneration with a routine eye exam and family history. Your doctor will dilate your eyes and examine the back of your eye to view the macula.

Your doctor may ask you to look at a chart called an Amsler grid to see whether the lines look wavy, faded or broken. The doctor may also use a test called an OCT (optical coherence tomography) to measure your retina's thickness. OCT can identify leaking fluid from abnormal blood vessels.

What causes macular degeneration?

Dry macular degeneration develops when tiny yellow deposits called drusen appear on the macula. Wet macular degeneration results when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the macula. These abnormal vessels can leak fluid and blood into the eye.

Risk factors for developing macular degeneration include:

• Family history of macular degeneration
• Older age
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Diet low in fruits and vegetables
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol

Macular degeneration symptoms

Signs and symptoms of macular degeneration include:

• Wavy appearance of straight lines
• Blurred or dim vision
• Dark or blank spots in the center of your vision
• Difficulty recognizing faces
• Need for brighter lights for close work
• Reduced intensity or brightness of colors