What to Expect After a Macular Degeneration Diagnosis

Macular degeneration affects nearly 20 million Americans and is the leading cause of irreversible loss of vision in people older than 60. Given those facts, it’s understandable that you may be anxious or uncertain if you’re told you have the disease.

Our team at Berkeley Heights Eye Group in New Providence, New Jersey, is here to help. Here’s what we want our patients to know after getting a macular degeneration diagnosis.

What’s macular degeneration?

Your retina is the layer of tissue at the back of your eye. It absorbs light and sends signals to your brain, which is how you can see. Macular degeneration occurs when the central part of your retina (macula) deteriorates, leading to a loss of vision beginning in the center of your eye.

Vision loss starts with a reduced ability to see in low light and can progress to wavy or blurred vision before central vision is lost entirely. The rest of your retina still works, so peripheral vision remains intact.

There are two main types of macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration makes up about 80% of cases and occurs as your macula thins with age and develops protein clumps (drusen).

Wet macular degeneration causes new blood vessels to form underneath your retina. These blood vessels can leak and cause damage. With this type, vision declines faster.

Risk factors include high blood pressure, obesity, eating high amounts of saturated fats, smoking, age, and a family history of the disease.

What are some treatment options?

There’s no cure for macular degeneration, but you can take steps to slow its progression. It’s important to monitor your vision regularly after diagnosis to preserve your vision as much as possible.

Taking vitamins C and E can promote better eye health. Also, adjust your lifestyle if necessary to stop smoking and eat a healthy diet, which includes lean proteins, especially fish, and more vegetables and greens.

If you have wet macular degeneration, medication injections can help reduce the number of blood vessels in your retina and slow the bleeding. Laser surgery is also an option to reduce blood vessels.

What other strategies can help?

A few other strategies can improve your comfort and safety. 

Make sure the lighting in your home is bright and even. Use warm white or neutral bulbs to reduce harsh glare. Add smaller lamps near places where you read or do tasks such as cooking. Reduce as many trip hazards as you can, including cords and loose rugs.

Also, consider using hand-held magnifiers, tablets that let you enlarge text and adjust contrast, and built-in accessibility features on your devices, including voice assistants, screen readers, and larger text.

If you’ve recently received a diagnosis of macular degeneration or you notice changes in your vision, our experts at Berkeley Heights Eye Group can conduct a thorough exam of your eyes and recommend treatment options. 

To schedule your visit, call us or request an appointment online today.