Laguna Hills AMD Specialist
You might be wondering why you would need a Laguna Hills AMD specialist. The first question you should ask yourself is what does AMD stand for? AMD stands for age-related macular degeneration, which is a common condition that affects people age 50 years and older. This condition is associated with the loss of central vision, which affects one’s ability to read, drive or see someone’s face.
The macula refers to the central portion of the retina, and if you are not aware of the retina, is similar to the film inside of a camera. The image one sees is focused by the cornea and lens of the eye onto the center of the retina otherwise known as the macula. Oftentimes people with AMD have minimal visual symptoms and may retain good vision. However a relatively small percentage of people with AMD will lose their central vision which is going to impair their abilities to read or drive a car.
The cause of AMD which is a complex degenerative condition that becomes extremely prevalent with advanced age, is typically found in people who are aged 50 years or more however sometimes you can see the symptoms in younger people. Family history is an extremely important Association when you are getting diagnosed with AMD. Though you should know that simply having a blood relative with age-related macular degeneration does not necessarily mean that you will definitely develop down the line. Other risk factors for AMD may be modifiable or controllable such as smoking, nutritional intake that is poor, and high blood pressure.
To recap, risk factors for AMD are:
- Being 50 years or older
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- And having a poor diet
There is no cure for AMD but there are treatment options that can prevent or slow the progression of the disease. However before we talk about the management of symptoms for AMD we should discuss the types of age-related macular degeneration that have different causes.
The most common type of age-related macular degeneration is the drive form. About 80% of people with AMD are going to have the drive form and its exact cause is unknown, although both genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role. The specific type of AMD occurs when the sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, oftentimes starting in one eye and moving to the next. The loss of vision in this condition is often slow and gradual, and it is believed that the age-related damage of an important support membrane under the retina contributes to dry age-related macular degeneration.
This type is less common but it typically leads to more severe vision loss in patients. This type of AMD is called wet AMD. It is the most common cause of severe loss of vision, and occurs when abnormal blood vessels start to grow beneath the retina. These abnormal blood vessels the fluid and blood, and could create a large blind spot in the center of the visual field. This type of AMD can be slow and gradual or it can be quick.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with AMD, reach out to a Laguna Hills AMD specialist such as the ones available at the Retina Associates of Orange County. The physicians RAOC are committed to providing the utmost compassion and skill when caring for their patients was site threatening that no conditions.