Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration
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Nearly 11 million people in the United States have macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of vision loss in people 60 and older. Early detection of macular degeneration is crucial to your vision. At Beraja Medical Institute, the board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrists offer comprehensive eye exams that include advanced screening tools that can detect macular degeneration before you even experience vision changes. To request your eye exam appointment, call the office in Coral Gables, Florida, or book online today.
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786-899-2516
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Macular Degeneration Q & A
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What is the macula?
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Your macula is part of your retina and responsible for your central vision. At birth, your macula has a certain thickness. As you get older, your macula thins, leading to blurred vision and straight lines appearing crooked. You can slow down the thinning of your macula by wearing sunglasses, not smoking, and taking antioxidant vitamins.
What is macular degeneration?
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When your thinning macula is damaged, and you lose your central vision, you have macular degeneration. There are two types of macular degeneration:
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Dry macular degeneration
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Dry macular degeneration is the most common type. With dry macular degeneration, your thinning macula leads to yellow deposits, known as drusen, to form under your macula. These deposits cause further thinning and drying of the macula and, ultimately, the loss of vision.
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Wet macular degeneration
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Wet macular degeneration is less common but more serious. With this type of macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels grow under your retina. These blood vessels leak and scar your eye tissue, increasing the rate of vision loss.
You may be at risk of developing macular degeneration if it runs in your family, you’re overweight, you smoke cigarettes, or you eat an unhealthy diet. Your risk of developing a degenerative eye condition also increases as you get older.
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How is macular degeneration diagnosed?
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The team at Beraja Medical Institute performs comprehensive eye exams to diagnose macular degeneration. You may not realize you have macular degeneration until you experience vision changes, which is why regular eye exams are such an important part of your overall health and wellness plan. Early detection is crucial to maintain your vision.
During your examination, the team reviews your medical history and performs several tests to assess vision and eye health. The team uses modern equipment that can find microscopic damage, even before your vision is affected.
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How is macular degeneration treated?
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Treatment for macular degeneration depends on the type. For dry macular degeneration, the team recommends you take their specially formulated vitamin supplement that contains specific nutrients known to slow down the degenerative process.
For wet macular degeneration, the team offers an injection that reduces the number of blood vessels in your retina, as well as leaking. Your ophthalmologist or optometrist injects the medication directly into your eye at the office every four weeks.
Don’t wait until you have vision changes to schedule an eye exam. For a macular degeneration screening, contact Beraja Medical Institute by phone or online today.
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