Archives for January 2022

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with or might be suffering from macular degeneration, it is essential to stay informed and prepared.

Although age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of permanent vision loss in people aged 60 and above, receiving a diagnosis can be stressful and intimidating. You might be asking, “What is macular degeneration, and what are my treatment options?” Keep reading for information about the types, causes, symptoms, and treatment of age-related macular degeneration that will help you and your loved ones make the right choices for treatment and care.

What Is Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration is a chronic, incurable disease of the eye. AMD directly impacts the macula—the central portion of the eye’s retina that contributes to our ability to focus our vision to see fine details, read, drive a car, etc. With AMD, the macula wears down or becomes damaged over time, creating central vision loss.

This type of vision loss most often impacts people over 60 and can worsen with time. Vision loss occurs in the central portion of a person’s field of sight, with peripheral and side vision typically remaining, though this vision is sometimes blurred or distorted.

Types of Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration presents as one of two main types: wet form and dry form.

Dry macular degeneration is the most frequently occurring form of age-related macular generation, comprising more than 80% of AMD diagnoses. With dry macular degeneration, the macula thins over time, and small protein deposits called drusen begin to form. Light sensitivity in the eye progressively weakens, leading to blind spots in or complete loss of one’s central vision.

Wet macular degeneration is significantly less common than dry macular degeneration and progresses differently. Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal, new blood vessels begin to form beneath the eye’s retina. When fluid or blood leaks from these blood vessels, vision can become distorted or appear “wavy.” Over time, fluid leakage in the retina causes scarring on the macula and can lead to blind spots in or loss of central vision.

There is another rare type of macular degeneration caused by a disease called Stargardt disease. Referred to as juvenile macular degeneration, this type of macular degeneration is not related to aging. Stargardt disease occurs in young people and is related to a recessive gene.

Macular Degeneration Causes and Risk Factors

Though research is ongoing, the exact cause or causes of age-related macular degeneration, wet or dry, are unknown. Scientists have determined that a combination of hereditary and lifestyle factors may trigger deterioration in the macula but have not yet determined how these factors contribute to macular degeneration.

Several risk factors potentially contribute to age-related macular degeneration, including:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• A diet high in saturated fat
• Family history of age-related macular degeneration
• Caucasian ancestry
• Heart disease

Though the above are potential contributing factors, age is still the most significant risk factor for age-related macular degeneration. It is essential to regularly visit your ophthalmologist, who can give preventative recommendations and monitor for signs of macular degeneration.

Symptoms

Age-related macular degeneration may not be noticeable in its early stages. Vision distortion or loss may not become apparent until it is significant or is impacting both eyes. As the disease progresses, symptoms could include:

• Unfocused or blurry vision, including difficulty reading or driving
• Blind, blurred, or dark spots in the center of your vision

Changes in color perception are rare but possible. Age-related macular degeneration typically progresses in stages, throughout which symptoms may progress, relapse, or continually worsen.

Stages of Macular Degeneration

Early age-related macular degeneration is typically symptom-free and unnoticeable, outside of those subtle symptoms that a trained ophthalmologist can detect.

Intermediate age-related macular degeneration may present with some blurred or lost central vision but could also be symptom-free. An ophthalmologist can detect protein deposits and color changes in the retina that would indicate age-related macular degeneration is occurring.

Late age-related macular degeneration is when most vision loss has become noticeable and impacts day-to-day activities.

Early detection makes treatment options available that might help slow the progression of the disease. Regular visits to your ophthalmologist increase your chances of early detection, giving you your best probability of prolonging your vision.

Prevention

Following a healthy lifestyle is encouraged if you want to reduce your chances of developing age-related macular degeneration. Basic guidelines include:

• Eating a diet rich in leafy greens
• Wearing sunglasses with UV protection
• Avoiding smoking
• Exercising regularly

Though these efforts may reduce your chances of developing age-related macular degeneration, the best prevention is routine eye examinations. Tell your doctor about any changes or abnormalities in your vision, even if those changes seem insignificant at the time. If you are age 60 or above, ask your ophthalmologist to include age-related macular degeneration testing in every eye exam.

Diagnosis

Routine eye exams performed by trained ophthalmologists are the standard detection method for age-related macular degeneration. Doctors look for drusen protein deposits and for the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina that is typical in age-related macular degeneration.

Early detection is critical for prompt treatment, so doctors recommend routine eye exams. You can even perform an at-home tests for visual distortions using the Amsler Grid, a straight-line framework with defined axes and a central point. When viewed correctly, distortions in the Amsler Grid may indicate symptoms of age-related macular degeneration.

Treatment

Currently, age-related macular degeneration is incurable. Research into its causes and potential treatments is ongoing, however, and mitigation of the symptoms of macular degeneration is possible. Treatments range from anti-angiogenesis drugs, which block the creation of new blood vessels in the retina, to laser therapy, which actively destroys abnormal blood vessels in the eye.

Early detection of age-related macular degeneration gives a significant advantage to the treatment of the accompanying symptoms. If you’re concerned that you may be affected by macular degeneration or any eye or vision impairment, see your preferred ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

What Is Pink Eye?

Pink eye, otherwise known as conjunctivitis, is a common condition involving inflammation of the lining of the eye. Despite being very uncomfortable and highly contagious, most cases of pink eye are easily treated and rarely pose a threat to the eye or vision when quickly diagnosed.

There are many potential causes for pink eye. The type of pink eye you are diagnosed with, and your possible symptoms will depend on the underlying cause. In many cases, pink eye home remedies can be combined with medical care from a doctor to ease symptoms and treat pink eye effectively.

Symptoms of Pink Eye

Viral, bacterial, and allergic are the most common types of pink eye infections, with viral pink eye considered the most contagious. Pink eye can also be caused by reactions to eye drops, shampoos, sexually transmitted diseases, and other issues.

Depending on the underlying cause, symptoms of pink eye can include:

• Redness of the eye
• Swelling in or around the eye and lymph nodes
• Excessive watering or tearing of the eye
• White, yellow, or green discharge that may crust
• Itching and burning
• Blurry vision

Self-diagnosing pink eye or any eye condition is not recommended. If you experience pink eye symptoms or vision abnormalities, see your doctor at your earliest convenience. If your eye doctor is unavailable, your primary care physician can diagnose and treat mild cases of pink eye.

Treating Pink Eye at Home

Before and during your treatment of pink eye, some home remedies can help alleviate symptoms and reduce the spread of pink eye in your home.

Avoid Touching Your Eyes and Face

Many forms of pink eye are highly contagious and can quickly spread from one of your eyes to both eyes or to another person. To help reduce the chance of spreading pink eye:

1. Avoid any unnecessary touching of your eyes and face.
2. Wash your hands immediately after you clean your face or affected eye areas, and use clean, sanitary materials each time you wash the affected areas.
3. Avoid wearing contacts when you have pink eye to reduce inflammation and hand-to-eye contact.

If you are providing care for an individual with pink eye, wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after each contact with affected areas.

Toss, Wash, or Replace Contaminated Items

Contacts are generally not recommended for use during any eye infection, including most forms of pink eye. Make sure to dispose of any contacts which have been used in an infected eye. Attempting to reuse contaminated contacts can prolong, worsen, or spread pink eye.

After successfully treating your pink eye, make sure to clear the use of contact lenses with your eye doctor and use a fresh lens or set of lenses. Wash any pillowcase or cloth that comes into contact with infected eyes after each use, and do not share these items with other people.

Replace any mascara wands, eyelash curlers, or eyeliner products that have been used on an infected eye, and wait until the infection is resolved before using clean or new versions of these products on your eyes.

Compresses and Damp Cloth Cleanings

Using cool or warm compresses can help alleviate inflammation and drainage caused by pink eye. Additionally, gently cleaning the affected area several times daily with a cloth soaked in cool or slightly warm water can bring relief. You may be tempted to use hot water to clean the affected area, but doing so could further irritate your eye or cause scalding.

Ensure that any cloth used in compresses or cleaning is lint-free and clean. Cloth used to clean an infected eye should not be used on a healthy eye or for any purpose other than cleaning or treating the infected eye. Do not share these compresses or cleaning cloths with other people.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter treatment, either alone or in combination with a prescription treatment.

Eye drops designed to lubricate the eye or relieve itchiness may provide some relief from pink eye symptoms. Avoid eye drops designed to alleviate redness, and do not use eye drops if you feel that a reaction to eye drops might have caused your pink eye.

If allergies have caused your pink eye, you may benefit significantly from using over-the-counter allergy medication to alleviate your symptoms. These medications provide targeted inflammation relief and come in tablet, topical, eye drop, and nasal spray forms.

For viral pink eye, your doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) medication. NSAIDs are widely available in stores and may relieve the pain and inflammation that is common with pink eye. Speak to your doctor to see if using an NSAID for your symptoms is right for you.

Avoid Homeopathic Treatments and Follow Doctor Recommendations

There are a considerable number of proposed treatments for pink eye available on the internet. These proposed treatments range from reasonable to dangerous. It is always recommended that you ask your doctor before self-diagnosing or attempting any home treatment, especially when targeting an area as sensitive as your eyes.

Your primary doctor or eye doctor is trained to recognize common and rare eye infections and conditions and recommend courses of effective and safe treatment. If your doctor has prescribed antibiotic eyedrops, use the eye drops as recommended and complete the recommended course of medication. Improperly using antibiotics can cause bacteria to become medicine-resistant and may result in a more dangerous type of infection.

Misdiagnosing an eye infection carries considerable risk, so it’s important to know when it’s a good idea to defer to your doctor in these matters.

When to See a Doctor About Pink Eye Symptoms

In general, adults should seek medical attention if experiencing:

• Any pain in or around the eye
• Distorted or impaired vision
• Light sensitivity or headaches
• Fever or chills
• Green or yellow discharge
• Any sudden onset of eye-related symptoms that impair everyday activities

Those with compromised or weakened immune systems, including infants and the elderly, should always seek medical attention for a potential eye infection. People in these categories are at a higher risk of severe complications as a result of any infection.

If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have pink eye, contact your eye doctor as soon as possible to receive the most effective relief and treatment and consider using these pink eye home remedies to ease symptoms along with medical care.