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Macular degeneration is a common cause of vision loss and it’s important to know the relevant precautions that can be taken to prevent serious damage to your eyesight.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (known as AMD) is an eye disease that affects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. This disease is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss in people 50 years and older. The good news is that a better understanding of the disease and its risk factors can help prevent AMD and slow it's progression.
There are two types of AMD, dry and wet. Around 80% of people with this disease have the dry, less serious form, while fewer suffer from the wet, more severe type. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one way to promote retinal health and lower your chances of developing either form of AMD. Early detection is another important way to prevent severe consequences of this condition.
There are various decisions we can make throughout our lifetimes that can decrease the chances of developing macular degeneration and other types of damage that develop later in life. That is why it is important not to wait until you approach the age when developing AMD becomes common. If you follow the tips discussed below, you can help prevent the development of this disease.And no matter how old you are, it's never too late to make healthier lifestyle choices.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is the greatest risk factor for AMD. According to the CDC and many research studies, smoking doubles your chances of developing AMD and causes exposure to dangerous free radicals (unstable molecules) that prevent necessary nutrients from reaching the retina. We cannot stress enough how important it is to stop smoking in order to lower your risk of developing this disease. If you are ready to stop but not sure how, your primary healthcare provider should be able to recommend various smoking cessation methods to help you quit as soon as possible. And even if you smoke and have already been diagnosed with AMD, you can decrease the chances of further damage by quitting smoking.
Monitor Your Health
Your overall health contributes to your eye health and specifically, the risk of developing AMD. It's important to follow your doctor's advice on how to manage your health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, by taking your prescribed medications and doing your best to keep your illnesses under control.
High blood pressure is particularly important to monitor because it restricts blood flow to the eye, which in turn causes oxygen loss in the eye, and can lead to the progression of macular degeneration and more than doubles the risk of developing wet AMD. It's important to consult your doctor on how to lower your blood pressure in such a case. Maintaining a healthy weight and consulting with your doctor about other ways to lower your blood pressure is vital to preventing and reducing the risk of getting macular degeneration.
Routine Eye Exams
It is crucial to schedule routine eye exams to ensure that your eye doctor checks the health of your eyes, including your retina. Anyone from the age of 65 (and even younger), should be checked for signs of macular degeneration, as age is the greatest risk factor, clearly stated in the very name age-related macular degeneration. Also, simply knowing if AMD is in your family history can help you prevent the progression of this disease. That’s why it's important to tell your eye doctor if you have close relatives who have AMD, as there are genetic components to this condition. A comprehensive eye exam can detect an early onset of macular degeneration and greatly reduce the damage that it causes. You can schedule an eye exam with our eye doctor in New York by calling at (212) 752-6930.
Amsler Grid
A small black and white grid poster, known as an Amsler grid, is very helpful for early home detection. If the lines in the grid appear wavy or start to disappear, there’s a good indication that you need to be evaluated by your eye doctor for AMD. Some of the first noticeable signs of this disease are the perception of distorted lines or blind spots in your central vision. These symptoms can be easily noticed when you regularly do a quick screening using the Amsler grid.
Please speak to your eye doctor about the best course of action to take the proper precautions which can help prevent vision loss from macular degeneration. If you have a family history of this eye condition, it is even more essential to do what you can to protect your eyes from AMD. Please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at our office to take control of the health of your eyes. You can schedule an eye exam with our eye doctor by calling (212) 752-6930. Patients searching for advanced medical eye care for AMD visit our clinic from all over New York, and we are proud to be a leading provider of medical eye care services for patients from New York, Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island.
At Amplify with Dr Wernick I was seeking help for seemingly intractable, probably age-related dryness. I've seen other doctors about it, and that has been helpful, but what he explained to me about it and the careful way he answered all my questions gave me so much more of a clear understanding of what is going on (and is not) that I am more able to implement all his and others' recommendations than I was before. And he gave me additional resources for further follow-up. I am most grateful.
Wow! This is a great Eye Care medical facility. I was thoroughly examined by Dr. Pinkhasov for over 2 hours. She made sure to check my eyes for pretty much everything and patiently explained proper care for my eyes. They definitely know how to provide great care and treat their patients right. Now I know why they have such a great reputation and been around for so long.
Dr. Kavner is a gifted diagnostician and orthoptic therapist. He treated me several decades ago for a condition similar to dyslexia. I was having migraines five times per week. I worked with him for about a year and I experienced tremendous improvement (down to 3-4 per year) that has lasted.
Dr. Kavner recommended two types of eye therapy for my daughter. One of them using bio-feedback. In just three sessions she is seeing considerably better. She shouted this morning: Ooh my God! I could not see these letters with my glasses on, and now I can see them without my glasses. If you are willing and able to invest in improving your vision, this is a good place to go to!
Dr. Kavner recommended two types of eye therapy for my daughter. One of them using bio-feedback. In just three sessions she is seeing considerably better. She shouted this morning: Ooh my God! I could not see these letters with my glasses on, and now I can see them without my glasses. If you are willing and able to invest in improving your vision, this is a good place to go to!
I have always found Dr Kavner's work, expertise and wisdom of the highest caliber. As one of the fathers of OT, occupational othomology, his depth and breadth of knowledge about the eyes' health and wellbeing of the patient is exemplary. Cannot say enough good things about him.
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