February is National Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vsion Awareness month. AMD is the leading cause of low vision and blindness in Americans age 60 years and older and affects 1.6 million Americans.
What is AMD?
AMD is a progressive disease with no known cure. It slowly steals vision as it affects the retina, a paper-thin tissue lining the back of the eye, and causes the cells in the area to die. As a result, if you have AMD, you may see blind spots, grayness, and other distortions in the center frame of your vision.
In some people, AMD advances so slowly that vision loss does not occur for a long time. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in one or both eyes. AMD by itself does not lead to complete blindness, with no ability to see. However, the loss of central vision in AMD can interfere with simple everyday activities, such as the ability to drive, read, write, or do other close-up activities, such as cooking or making repairs around the house.
Here’s what else you need to know about AMD…
Risk Factors
The exact cause of AMD is not known, but there are several risk factors that may play a role. Some you can help control and others you cannot. These include:
High blood pressure
Smoking
High cholesterol
Obesity
Excessive sun exposure
Risks you cannot control include age, family history, gender and race.
Symptoms
AMD symptoms include blurriness, wavy lines, or a blind spot. You may also notice visual distortions such as:
Straight lines or faces appearing wavy
Doorways seeming crooked
Objects appearing smaller or farther away
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.
Reducing your risk for AMD
Even though there is no known cure for AMD, practicing healthy daily lifestyle habits can reduce your risk for it. Eating a healthy diet, not smoking, maintaining healthy blood pressure, and protecting your eyes from potentially harmful ultra-violet (UV) light and blue light are important first steps. The healthier your body, the more it can maintain good eye health.
AMD may display few symptoms in the early stages, so it is important to have your eyes examined regularly, especially if you are at risk for AMD because of age, family history, lifestyle, or some combination of these factors.
If you are experiencing disturbances or irregularities with your eyes, call us at 618-857-2700 to make an appointment with our ophthalmologist, an eye specialist, at Archview Medical Center.
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About Touchette Regional Hospital
Touchette Regional Hospital has proudly served the communities of the metro-east for more than 60 years. We offer 24-hour Emergency Department, Intensive Care, Cardiopulmonary, Laboratory, Radiology, Medical Specialty Services, Transportation, Sleep Center, Physical Therapy, Senior Care Services, Start Now Breast Cancer Awareness Program, Southern Illinois Home Healthcare, Special Needs Dentistry for children, and Behavioral Health (inpatient and outpatient). For more information, visit www.touchette.org.