Macular degeneration

Macular Degeneration (MD) is a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision. Although peripheral (side) vision will still be normal, MD makes it difficult to recognise faces or read, for example. The condition generally affects people in their 50s and 60s. In fact, it’s estimated that 7% of Irish people over 50 years old are living with MD. Without proper treatment, vision gets worse over time, which can lead to severe loss of vision.

What are the symptoms of Macular Degeneration (MD)?

MD can occur in one or both eyes. Although it’s not painful and does not alter the appearance of the eyes, it can make everyday activities like watching TV and driving difficult due to blurriness or distortion. Here are additional symptoms to watch out for:

• seeing straight lines as wavy or crooked
• objects looking smaller than normal
• dark, blurry areas in centre of vision
• colours seeming more faded than usual

What causes MD?

The exact cause of MD is actually unknown, however, certain factors can increase the risk of developing this condition. For example, a family history of MD can make a person more likely to have MD. Other risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity. Because older people are more likely to develop MD, it is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration.

The importance of treating MD

Without diagnosing and treating MD, vision may get worse. That’s why regular eye exams are so important. You can book your eye examination online today. If proper treatment is not put in place as early as possible, MD can lead to severe and permanent vision loss. There’s currently no cure for MD, but there are ways to manage symptoms including laser therapy, vision aids like magnifiers, anti-angiogenic drugs and supplements.

Getting diagnosed

To check your eyes for MD, we use an OCT scan, which is one of the best ways to detect this eye disease. This is offered as standard for all patients who visit for an eye examination. The Topcon OCT allows us to see beneath the surface of the retina, which helps with early detection.

We also use a Topcon slit lamp, which allows us to look inside the eye at the macular area of the retina. To monitor your vision at home, using the Amsler grid can help catch vision changes as soon as possible. This is a grid with a dot in the middle, which may appear distorted or have blank, blurry or dark patches if there’s a problem with your eyes.

You can download the Amsler Grid here.