Age-related macular degeneration, often called AMD or ARMD, is an inherited deterioration of the Macula.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States for people over 65 years of age. Because people in this group are an increasingly larger percentage of the general population, vision loss from macular degeneration is a growing problem.
Even though there is no known exact cause for Macular Degeneration, its origins are considered multi-factorial and the following factors may place you at a higher risk:
- Family history of Macular Degeneration
- Low macular pigment density
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- Farsightedness
- Poor Diet / Obesity
- Sun exposure
What is Age-related Macular Degeneration?
AMD occurs with degeneration of the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for the sharp, central vision needed to read or drive. Because the macula primarily is affected in AMD, central vision loss may occur.
Age-related macular degeneration affects more than 1.75 million individualsin the United States. Owing to the rapid aging of the US population, this number will increase to almost 3 million by 2020. *
At An Eye To The Future we have gone far in having acquired advanced technology and treatment regimens to help prevent and slow the progress of AMD. Dr. Silberberg has lectured to large groups of Optometrists and Ophthalmologists encouraging them to be more aggressive in treating this condition.
Prevention
Modifying one’s lifestyle may reduce the odds for early AMD
- Don’t smoke.
- Consume a low-fat diet.
- Eat plenty of fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, and nuts.
- Include 2-3 servings fish per week in your diet.
- Exercise regularly (walking, cycling, swimming, etc.)
- Wear sunglasses and/or hat to protect against chronic sun exposure.
Signs & Symptoms
- Blurred/blind spot in the center of your field of vision
- Require more light when reading
- Require more light when printed words become blurry
- Difficult to adapt to low lit areas
- Overall vision is becoming hazy
- Colors do not seem as bright
- Difficulty with face recognition
What services do we offer?
An Eye To The Future developed a comprehensive approach of testing and interventions to help curb the effects of this vision robbing disease:
Genetic testing Determines the risk of someone developing the disease as well as provides guidance in what care to intervene with.
Macula Risk PGx AMD Genetic Testing Macula Risk® PGx is a combined prognostic and pharmacogenetic DNA test designed to determine a patient’s risk of progression to advanced Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and aid in the selection of appropriate eye vitamin formulations for AMD based on his or her individual genetic risk profile.
Treatment
The key is early detection and early treatment.There is as yet no outright cure for macular degeneration, but some treatments may delay its progression or even improve vision.We at An Eye To The Future have referral relationships with who we consider the best retinal physicians available if treatment is required.
OCT (Ocular Coherence Tomography)
The Optovue OCT can see macular changes before other older clinical evidence appears. This allow us to aggressively intervene to help the early AMD or at risk pre AMD patient.
Digital Retinal Imaging
This high resolution imaging system can help our group see subtle changes early in the condition.
AdaptDx Pro Dark Adaptometer
We are offering a new test that helps us diagnose AMD at a very early stage and monitor disease progression. If you are experiencing problems seeing at night, or it is becoming increasingly difficult to read in dim light, talk to us about scheduling an AdaptDx Pro test. It measures the time it takes for your vision to adjust to the dark. This is called dark adaptation.
The simple test takes less than 10 minutes. You’ll wear a comfortable headset and follow the instructions from an artificial intelligence-driven technician named Theia, who will guide you through the test. Nothing will touch your eye. If the AdaptDx Pro test indicates signs of early AMD, you and your doctor have valuable time to develop a plan to delay disease progression.
Intervention for Prevention and Treatment
This use of specifically designed dietary and Vitamin therapies minimize the risk of developing AMD as well as slows progression in people who already have it. One potent formula we use frequently is Macuhealth Vitamins: MacuHealth with LMZ3 is a patented natural eye health supplement consisting of the three primary protective pigments found in the macula. Taking this one small, easy-to-swallow soft gel once a day has been clinically proven to restore macular pigments to normal levels for enhanced vision and help in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration. Gluten free.
BlueTech Lenses and Advanced Antiglare Coatings
The damage from blue light is a known causative agent in the development of AMD. These lenses block this damaging radiation. Antiglare coatings of specialized designs are extremely useful.