Macular Degeneration: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

When you look across the room at your loved ones, do their faces seem blurry? Do once-bright colors look faded? Do you need more light to read by? You might have macular degeneration.

What is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss for people age 50 and over,¹ and affects one-third of adults over age 75.² Macular degeneration can lead to severe vision loss that makes many tasks of daily living difficult, although it typically doesn’t cause total blindness. Here’s what you need to know to understand, identify, prevent and treat this vision disorder.

Wet and dry macular degeneration

As its name implies, macular degeneration affects a part of your eye called the macula. It’s the small, central part of the retina responsible for clear vision in your direct line of sight. There are two main types of macular degeneration.

• Dry macular degeneration. The most common form of the disease happens as your macula thins and breaks down with age, and small yellow deposits form on it. The condition may start in just one eye and have no noticeable symptoms. Signs may then progress gradually and include both eyes.
• Wet macular degeneration. The dry form sometimes progresses to wet macular degeneration, where blood vessels form under the retina and then leak into the macula. The broken blood vessels may eventually form scars, leading to loss of central vision. Symptoms appear suddenly and get worse quickly.

Symptoms of macular degeneration

The symptoms of macular degeneration involve various types of distorted vision, including:

• Blurry vision or a blind spot in your central line of sight
• Straight lines appearing wavy
• Colors looking less bright
• Difficulty doing close-up work (like reading or cooking), as well as driving and recognizing faces
• Difficulty seeing in dim light

Risk factors and causes of macular degeneration

While there isn’t a specific, known cause for macular degeneration, there are several factors that can increase your risk of developing the disease.

• Heredity — particularly if a close family member has it
• Age — it’s most common in people older than 50
• Gender — women are more likely to develop the disease than men
• Race — Caucasians are at higher risk
• Eye color — light-colored eyes, which have less natural protection from damaging UV light, may be more prone to the disease
• Sun exposure — over time, UV light can contribute to the disease
• Lifestyle and health — a diet high in fat and cholesterol, being overweight, having high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, smoking and having a sedentary lifestyle can all increase the risk of macular degeneration

Although some debate remains, blue light from digital devices — which can cause eye strain eye strain and other issues — is currently not considered a significant risk factor for developing macular degeneration.³

Macular degeneration treatment and diagnosis

Is there a cure for macular degeneration? Unfortunately, there is no cure for macular degeneration. But it is possible to slow the progression of the disease, making macular degeneration prevention and early diagnosis important — and a visit to your eye doctor vital if you notice any signs.

To treat or help prevent macular degeneration, your vision care professional might recommend a healthy diet focused on fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fish. Dietary supplements may also be on the menu. Getting regular exercise, maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and wearing sunglasses all may assist, as well. Medication and laser treatments may help more severe cases. And low-vision aids can help optimize the sight you do have.

If you have concerns or questions about macular degeneration or protecting your vision or you want to schedule an eye exam, you can use our Acceptance Locator or the CareCredit Mobile App to find a provider near you who accepts the CareCredit credit card. The card is an easy way to pay for vision care that isn’t covered by insurance, including co-pays and deductibles, so you can stay on the path to lifelong good vision.*