Eyesight is truly one of the most amazing senses that humans possess. As we age, vision loss seems to creep up on us. We begin having difficulty reading things close to us, and oftentimes, we grab a pair of reading glasses. We don’t typically take any steps further than that. Unfortunately, we often don’t pay attention to other subtle vision changes that can result from more serious eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration. BrightStar Care provides quality
home care in Orlando and wants to share with you valuable information regarding the signs of macular degeneration. Here are five things that you should know about age-related macular degeneration (AMD):
- Smoking increases the risk of developing AMD and the rate at which it progresses. Studies have indicated that quitting can significantly reduce the risk of AMD.
- Macular degeneration results from damage to the macula, which is the center of the field of vision resulting from damage to the retina. This damage can make it difficult or next to impossible to read or to recognize faces straight on. There is typically enough remaining peripheral vision which allows for participation in other life activities.
- For many people, there is no early warning sign, which means that vision has deteriorated before they are diagnosed with AMD. There are two kinds of AMD: wet and dry. A diagnosis of wet AMD carries with it the higher chances of blindness.
- Aging increases the risk of developing AMD. 1 in 100 people over the age of 65 will be diagnosed with AMD, and it catapults to 12 in 100 after the age of 80. Regular eye exams are critical in maintaining vision.
- There are success stories with AMD treatment. New treatments have been developed to treat wet AMD resulting in significant decreases in the occurrence of blindness.
Since the vision loss associated with AMD slowly progress, it’s important to have open communication channels with your elderly loved one. Many times, older individuals will not realize how severe their vision loss has become until it is almost too late and they cannot see well or at all. As a caregiver, you can help prevent loss of vision by scheduling regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist or optometrist for your loved one.
Home care in Orlando by BrightStar Care is your valuable resource for these and other age-related illnesses. Call us at 407-877-0720 to learn more.
Eyesight is truly one of the most amazing senses that humans possess. As we age, vision loss seems to creep up on us. We begin having difficulty reading things close to us, and oftentimes, we grab a pair of reading glasses. We don’t typically take any steps further than that. Unfortunately, we often don’t pay attention to other subtle vision changes that can result from more serious eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration. BrightStar Care provides quality home care in Orlando and wants to share with you valuable information regarding the signs of macular degeneration. Here are five things that you should know about age-related macular degeneration (AMD):