Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition that affects the central vision, which is needed for seeing clearly (reading and recognising faces). Early detection is critical for effective management, especially for the aggressive wet form of macular degeneration. Are you ready to safeguard your central sight?

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What is Macular Degeneration?

The macula is a small, central area of the retina that contains a high concentration of light-receptive cells known as cones. This area is responsible for virtually all the fine detail visual tasks we perform every day, including providing our central vision, detailed focus (like reading and recognising faces), and our colour vision.

Macular degeneration is a progressive disease where small waste deposits called drusen form and accumulate underneath the macula over a period of time. This can be asymptomatic in the early stages, but with time, people may notice a slight blurring of vision, or that street poles or door frames can have a little kink in them.

There are two advanced forms of Macular Degeneration

Dry (Geographic) Macular Degeneration

This form results in the gradual scarring and atrophy (wasting away) of the macula region over time. It is typically the slower-progressing type of macular degeneration, leading to a slow decline in central vision. Although treatments for dry macular degeneration have recently become available in Australia, as yet they have not been widely adopted.

Wet (Neovascular) Macular Degeneration

Wet macular degeneration is the more aggressive form.

It results from a breakage of the outer layers of the retina, allowing abnormal, leaky blood vessels to grow. This causes fluid and blood to accumulate underneath the macula, pushing up and causing rapid central vision loss

Detection, Management, & Prevention

Early detection of macular degeneration is paramount. Our optometrists use OCT and Fundus Photography, taking high-quality images of the retina to create a visual record of the back of your eye, allowing us to monitor the accumulation of drusen and detect any progression over time.

While a targeted treatment for the Dry form is unavailable, making lifestyle modifications has been shown to provide significant preventative benefits in the progression of macular degeneration.

This includes:

Ceasing Smoking: Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors.
Eating a Balanced Diet: Consuming a diet high in antioxidants, lutein, and zeaxanthin.