Master Eye Associates

103 Yale St, Ste 100B

Houston, TX 77007 USA

(713) 880-3872

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • Virtual Office Tour
  • Eyecare Services
    • Dry Eyes
    • Eye & Vision Exams
    • Contact Lens Exams
    • Lasik Eye Surgery
    • Eye Surgery
      • Eye Surgery Co-Management
    • Hard to Fit Contacts
    • Computer Vision
  • Conditions Treated
    • Glaucoma
  • Frame Selection
  • Payments Options & Insurance
  • About Us
    • Meet The Optometrist
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Community Content
    • Common Eye Conditions
      • Age-Related
      • Eye Lids
      • Cognitive and Acquired
      • Vision Impairment
      • Injury & Irritation
      • Changes in Appearance
    • Contact Lenses
    • Eye Diseases
    • Eyeglasses
      • Eyeglass Lenses
    • Eye Symptoms
    • How the Eyes Work
      • Basic Visual Skills
    • Pediatric Vision
    • Protecting Your Eyes
    • Visual Rehabilitation
    • Vision Problems
    • What is Vision Therapy
    • Vision Therapy Programs
    • We Can Help With
      • Cataracts
      • Corneal Disorders
        • Disorders
      • Glaucoma
      • Refractive Disorders
      • Adult Strabismus
      • Retinal Disorders
    • Newsletters
      • Amazing, Interesting Eyes
      • Medical Perspectives
      • Kid's Vision
      • Conditions That Affect Vision
      • Tips for Healthy Eyes
      • Contacts
      • Glasses & Frames
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletters >
  • Signs You May Have Macular Degeneration

Signs You May Have Macular Degeneration

  • Created in Newsletters

Man receiving eye exam

Signs You May Have Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration can cause changes that affect your central vision. This age-related eye disease is one of the most common reasons why people experience vision loss, according to the National Eye Institute. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can help you get the care you need to slow the progression of the disease and maximize your vision.

What Is Macular Degeneration?

The macula occupies the center part of the retina, a layer of light-sensing cells at the back of your eye. The cornea (the clear tissue covering your iris and pupil) and the lens inside your eye focus light onto your retina. Once light reaches the retina, it is transformed into electrical impulses. The impulses travel along the optic nerve to the brain where they're converted into images.

Macular degeneration occurs when the cells in the macula become damaged. When macular cells are damaged, the brain receives incomplete information from the eyes. As a result, you may notice changes in your vision. AMD can affect just one eye or both of your eyes.

Although anyone can develop AMD, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) notes that your risk may increase if:

  • You're 50 or older
  • Other people in your family have or had AMD
  • You're overweight
  • You have high blood pressure
  • You eat foods that contain saturated fats
  • You smoke

Macular Degeneration Signs and Symptoms

You may have one of these two forms of macular degeneration:

  • Dry. Most people have the "dry" form of macular degeneration. In this form, the cells in the macula gradually become thinner and die.
  • Wet. Wet AMD happens when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow in the macula. These blood vessels often leak, interfering with vision and creating scars. Dry AMD can turn into the wet form in some cases.

If you have AMD, you may experience these signs and symptoms:

  • Blurred Vision. Blurry central vision can be a sign of AMD.
  • Dull Colors. Do colors look dull or faded? That's not surprising since your macula is responsible for good color vision. If macular cells are damaged or die, colors won't look as rich and vibrant.
  • Wavy Lines. AMD distorts straight edges and lines, making them look wavy.
  • Blind Spot. Eventually, you may notice a blind spot in your central vision. As central vision is essential for reading, driving and recognizing faces, a blind spot can have a serious impact on your life.
  • Trouble Seeing in Low Light. AMD may make it difficult to read or see in low light or adjust quickly when walking from a dark room to a light room.

During your visit to the eye doctor, your eyes will be dilated so that any drusen that may have formed can be detected. Drusen are yellow, fatty deposits that form under the macula. If you have drusen, you may already have dry AMD or may be more likely to develop the eye disease.

Treatments for AMD

Eye doctors treat wet AMD with injections or laser treatments that slow leaks and decrease the number of abnormal blood vessels in your macula.

Although there is no treatment for dry AMD now, taking AREDS supplements may help slow the progression of AMD, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The supplements contain lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, copper, and vitamins C and E. Wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes from ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can also be helpful, as can eating a healthy diet and avoiding smoking.

Scientists are hard at work looking for treatments for the dry form of AMD. According to Bright Focus Foundation, researchers are exploring a possible immune system link to AMD, investigating an implant that slowly releases a protective medication, researching eye drops that improve blood flow to the retina, and conducting several other AMD studies.

If you have already experienced vision loss due to AMD, your optometrist can recommend low-vision aids, like magnifiers, telescopes, special eyeglass lenses, and large-print books and products.

Sources:

National Eye Institute: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Data and Statistics, 7/17/2019

Bright Focus Foundation: The Latest Research on Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration, 7/9/2021

All About Vision: What Is Macular Degeneration?, 3/2022

American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Macular Degeneration?, 2/10/2022

  • Common Eye Conditions
    • Age-Related
    • Eye Lids
    • Cognitive and Acquired
    • Vision Impairment
    • Injury & Irritation
    • Changes in Appearance
  • Contact Lenses
  • Eye Diseases
  • Eyeglasses
    • Eyeglass Lenses
  • Eye Symptoms
  • How the Eyes Work
    • Basic Visual Skills
  • Pediatric Vision
  • Protecting Your Eyes
  • Visual Rehabilitation
  • Vision Problems
  • What is Vision Therapy
  • Vision Therapy Programs
  • We Can Help With
    • Cataracts
    • Corneal Disorders
      • Disorders
    • Glaucoma
    • Refractive Disorders
    • Adult Strabismus
    • Retinal Disorders
  • Newsletters
    • Amazing, Interesting Eyes
    • Medical Perspectives
    • Kid's Vision
    • Conditions That Affect Vision
    • Tips for Healthy Eyes
    • Contacts
    • Glasses & Frames

Sign up using the form below or call us at 713-880-3872.

Featured Links

Click to find out more

  • Services

    We strive to provide complete care for our patients/ learn more about all the services we provide.

  • Make An Appointment

    We will do our best to accommodate your busy schedule. Schedule an appointment today!

  • Online Forms

    At Master Eye Associates, we value your time. In an effort to save you time in our office, you can download and complete our patient form(s) prior to your appointment.

Monday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

10:00 am-5:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Location

Find us on the map

Testimonials

Reviews From Our Satisfied Patients

    We use Anderson Optometry for all of our family’s vision needs. Recently, we had to have our youngest fitted for new glasses and he made the experience fun for her and informative for us. We know Dr. Anderson will always take good care of our family’s eye care and that’s why we wouldn’t go to anywhere else.

    The Harrison Family

    Dr. Anderson and his staff are so patient and friendly. Dr. Anderson prescribed me glasses and I had the toughest time picking out frames. They didn’t rush, but instead made helpful suggestions and now I have an awesome pair of frames, not to mention the fact that I can see ten times better than before. You guys are the best!

    Shelly

    I’ve been going to Dr. Anderson for over five years now and even though I only see him once a year for my annual exam, he and his staff always make me feel very welcome and take care of all my eye care needs. Anderson Optometry is the best at what they do and make you feel right at home.

    Anthony

Featured Articles

Read up on informative topics

  • Vision Loss and Mental Health

    Feeling depressed after vision loss? ...

    Read More
  • Treatment Options for Presbyopia

    Over 40 and finding it hard to see close-up? One of these presbyopia treatment options could improve your vision. ...

    Read More
  • Summertime Allergies and Your Eyes

    Do you know how to treat your summertime eye allergy symptoms? ...

    Read More
  • Signs You May Have Macular Degeneration

    Could changes in your central vision be caused by macular degeneration? ...

    Read More
  • Glaucoma and You: The Importance of Eye Exams

    Want to avoid vision loss due to glaucoma? Schedule a visit with the eye doctor. ...

    Read More
  • Important Healthy Eye Habits for Kids

    Want to keep your kids' eyes as healthy as possible? Try these tips. ...

    Read More
  • Healthy Vision Month

    Get ready for Healthy Vision Month by upgrading your vision habits. ...

    Read More
  • Presbyopia eye drops

    Would you like to stop squinting when you look at close objects? A new kind of eyedrops can improve presbyopia, an age-related vision problem. ...

    Read More
  • Dry Eye

    Sometimes your eyes don’t make enough tears or the tears evaporate too fast because they don’t have the right amount of compounds in them. This is called dry eye. Up to 5% of Americans complain of some form of dry eye. Individuals who wear contact lenses or have undergone LASIK or other types of ...

    Read More
  • Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

    Similar to a bruise under the skin, a subconjunctival hemorrhage happens when a small blood vessel located between the sclera (white portion of an eye) and the conjunctiva (lining on the surface of an eye) breaks and covers the sclera with blood. Unlike broken blood vessels located under the skin which ...

    Read More

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Sign up for more articles

Follow Us

  • Copyright © 2022 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map