Macular degeneration is a common eye disease that affects more than 20 million Americans. The condition damages the macula, a part of the retina at the back of the eye that’s responsible for central vision (your line of sight).
There’s no cure for macular degeneration, but early diagnosis and treatment can help slow its progression and preserve your vision.
At 2020 Family Vision, serving people in Novi, Lake Orion, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hill, and Ypsilanti, Michigan, our team specializes in treating macular degeneration.
To help people recognize it more quickly, we’ve written this blog that highlights seven of its most common warning signs.
By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll have a better idea of how macular degeneration presents, so you can take action if you develop any symptoms.
Macular degeneration is a disease that damages the macula — a part of the retina. The retina is a piece of tissue at the back of the eye that captures incoming light and converts it to electrical signals that the brain interprets as vision.
There are two types of macular degeneration:
Dry macular degeneration affects about 90% of people with the disease. It develops when a type of protein called drusen accumulates under the macula, causing it to become dry and thin.
Wet macular degeneration develops when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina and macula. Over time, these vessels leak blood and fluid, which distorts the macula’s shape and affects vision.
Let’s take a closer look at some early warning signs of macular degeneration:
The most common symptom of macular degeneration is blurred central vision in one or both eyes.
Central vision refers to objects in your line of sight that are directly in front of you. For instance, if you’re reading a book or watching TV, the words on the page or characters on the screen may look fuzzy.
Sometimes macular degeneration causes straight lines, such as doors, window frames, or wall edges, to appear distorted or wavy. This symptom commonly affects people with wet macular degeneration because it causes the macula to bulge outward, distorting vision.
Macular degeneration typically develops slowly, so symptoms are often subtle at first.
A common sign is difficulty reading or performing other close-up tasks, such as sewing, working on crossword puzzles, or using a smartphone.
At first, these issues might resolve when you use more light, but as time goes on, things in front of you may appear fuzzier and fuzzier.
Many people with macular degeneration report that colors appear significantly less vibrant. For example, it may look like there’s a filter over your vision that dulls or muddies the world around you.
This happens because the disease damages the cone cells in your macula, which help you see color and fine details.
As macula damage becomes more severe, it may cause you to lose some or all of your central vision. When that happens, it can seem like you’re looking into a dark hole.
By that, we mean there may be a dark spot in your central vision while the edges (your peripheral vision) remain clear. This symptom can make daily activities such as driving dangerous.
Central vision plays an important role in facial recognition. As the macula experiences progressive damage, it can make it challenging to see the details of people's faces, such as their eyes, noses, and mouths.
These challenges are typically worse from a distance and can make social interactions more difficult.
You know how hard it can be to see after coming indoors on a bright sunny day, but healthy eyes typically adjust quickly. For people with macular degeneration, this transitional period can take much longer and make it challenging to perform daily activities.
Similarly, you may notice that it’s harder to drive around dusk and dawn or do other tasks in low-light environments.
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s important to contact us. After a comprehensive eye exam and diagnostic imaging, we can determine if you have macular degeneration and make personalized treatment recommendations.
The sooner you’re diagnosed, the better. Prompt intervention can slow the disease's progression and help preserve your vision.
To make an appointment, call the nearest office or book your visit online.
