Posted by: Georgia Retina in Uncategorized
February’s Macular Degeneration Awareness Month Puts Focus On the Leading Cause of Blindness in Adults Over Age 50
Georgia Retina, the state’s largest retina-only private practice, urges all adults to have their vision checked regularly to detect retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as early as possible.
February is national Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month, and the month is an ideal time to put a spotlight on the condition that is the leading cause of vision loss in adults over age 50.
Dr. Jay Stallman of Georgia Retina said the greatest risk factor for the condition is age, with people over 60 at greater risk than other age groups.
According to Dr. Stallman, other risk factors for AMD include smoking, obesity, and family history. Race is also a factor, with whites more likely to lose vision from AMD than African Americans. Women appear to be at a greater risk than men.
There are two forms of AMD: wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration. An early symptom of wet AMD is distortion of the vision, where straight lines may appear wavy. If you notice such changes to your vision, contact your eye care professional at once. Fortunately, there are several treatments available, including injection of medications, laser treatment and photodynamic therapy, for selected cases. Sophisticated computerized imaging and tests such as optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography and indocyaninc green angiography help retinal specialists determine the appropriate treatment.
The most common early sign for dry AMD is blurred vision, however it is completely painless. Nutritional supplementation with particular vitamins has been shown to help slow down the rate of progression of macular degeneration.
Georgia Retina has nine offices and nine retinal specialists in metro Atlanta. All Georgia Regina physicians are Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and have further training in the ophthalmology subspecialty of the retina so they can diagnosis, manage, and treat diseases of the retina, vitreous and macula, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment and other conditions.
The physicians of Georgia Retina focuses their care exclusively on conditions of the retina, macula, and vitreous, making them experts in addressing retina disorders. Their retinal specialists have the training and experience to provide their patients with state-of-the-art treatment.
At Georgia Retina, patients’ vision needs are the top priority. As one of the largest retina-only medical practices in the southeastern United States, its nine board-certified ophthalmologists have received special Fellowship training in vitreo-retinal diseases and surgery, and are engaged in clinical trials with the goal of advancing research into retinal diseases, their causes, and their cures.
