Retinal Disorders and Treatment

 

Macular degeneration is one of the most common eye diseases treated by Retina Group of Florida. Macular degeneration is associated with aging. It can destroy sharp central vision. It is the leading cause of legal blindness among people over the age of 50 in the western world.

 

In some individuals, tiny dot-like deposits, known as drusen, slowly accumulate beneath the macula. While these deposites usually do not cause visual loss directly, they indicate that a person is at risk for developing further problems with the macula.  Atrophic or thin areas can develop in the macula which can lead to visual loss in the “dry” form of macular degeneration.  Of even greater concern, abnormal blood vessels may develop under the macula leading to the “wet” form of macular degeneration. If these vessels can be identified at an early stage, it may be possible to seal them with a laser treatment, injection of new medications developed for wet macular degeneration or other treatments.  Successful treatment of wet macular degeneration is highly dependant on early detection and intervention.  For this reason, it is critical to contact your eye care provider immediately if you notice any new distortion or visual changes.

 

Please visit our Patient Education Library for more information about Macular Degeneration.