Top Things You Should Know About Macular Degeneration
You might have recently gone in for an appointment with your eye doctor, and even though you might not have thought that anything was wrong, you might have been diagnosed with macular degeneration. On the other hand, some people notice certain symptoms, schedule an appointment, and are then diagnosed with macular degeneration. Either way, ever since you have found out that you have macular degeneration, you might want to learn everything that you can about it. This is some helpful information that can help you be better informed.
It Commonly Happens Because of Age
Macular degeneration is typically known as being age-related. It is most common in people who are older than 55. When younger people suffer from macular degeneration, it is typically because of an inherited disease.
There Are Some Contributing Factors
Although it's true that macular degeneration typically happens because of age, and although it's true that anyone could suffer from macular degeneration as they get older, there are some contributing factors that can put you at a greater risk. For example, having a poor diet without proper nutrition can be a factor. Many people who are obese or who smoke are more prone to macular degeneration as well.
You'll Probably Notice Vision-Related Symptoms
If you haven't yet noticed any symptoms of macular degeneration, you will probably want to be prepared for them in the future. For example, blurred vision is the most common symptom. You might also notice that it's difficult for you to see in dim light situations, or you might notice that you start seeing spots. Over time, if macular degeneration progresses without intervention, you might suffer from partial loss of vision. Because macular degeneration only affects the macula, you will not go completely blind from macular degeneration alone, even as it progresses. However, your vision could get much worse and could actually lead to you being considered legally blind.
There Are Treatment Options
Of course, if you are like many people, you might be concerned about whether or not there are treatment options available for you now that you have been diagnosed with macular degeneration. Luckily, there are options, and the options that you and your healthcare providers will choose will probably depend on the extent of your macular degeneration at this point. In many cases, people can take special vitamins and minerals to see great results. However, surgery is also an option that you might want to talk to a medical professional about.