One of the keys to eye care is educating yourself about potential diseases that can occur through your life. Macular degeneration is an eye disease that eventually causes blindness without treatment. Here's what you should know about this disease and how you can prevent it.

What Causes Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration occurs when the macula, or the central part of the retina in the back of the eye, starts breaking down. The retina senses incoming light, while the macula allows the eyes to see and process images clearly, which includes recognizing faces, reading, and watching television. The disease results in central vision loss, though it does not affect peripheral vision. 

The risk of this gradual disease increases after the age of 55, with additional factors including a genetic predisposition, smoking, and eating junk food. Smoking is believed to increase the risk by reducing blood circulation and therefore oxygen and nutrient delivery to the eyes, while junk food is thought to increase the risk because it is highly-processed. 

What Are the Different Types?

Macular degeneration comes in two main types—dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration thins the macula over time, causing its light-sensitive cells to die. This disease also causes drusen protein accumulation in the macula, which affects retinal cell functionality. It results in blind spots and eventually central vision loss without management. 

Wet macular degeneration occurs when blood vessels in the eyes start leaking, causing fluid accumulation in the back of the eyes. It is the more visually compromising disease, since it results in blurry, distorted vision, and dark spots in central vision. 

Treatment for macular degeneration depends on the disease type. Wet macular degeneration treatment can include medications injected into the eyes to retard blood vessel growth, while dry macular treatments include surgery to replace the natural lenses with synthetic versions. 

How Can You Prevent It?

Preventing macular degeneration includes scheduling routine eye doctor visits to identify any vision changes and consuming eye-healthy foods, including dark leafy greens, fish, and yellow vegetables and fruit. A healthy diet that’s low in processed food also helps maintain healthy blood pressure, as does regular exercise. Other eye care tips include quitting tobacco products or never using them, and wearing sunglasses every time you are outdoors; sunglasses with broad spectrum protection shield your eyes from harmful UV rays. 

If it’s time for your next eye exam, make an appointment with Walton Eye Care in Monroe, GA. Offering a wide variety of eye care services, including specialized eye disease tests, this center makes it easy to stay on top of your vision health. Call (770) 267-4561 today to schedule your appointment or visit the website for more information. Like the vision center on Facebook for the latest eye health tips.