As February is National Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness month, Touchette Regional Hospital wants patients to focus in on eye health and the potential risks and symptoms of AMD.
AMD is a progressive disease with no known cure. It affects the retina, a paper-thin tissue lining the back of the eye, and causes the cells in the area to die causing vision loss. People with AMD may see blind spots, grayness and other distortions in the center frame vision.
For some, 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.
The providers at Touchette want you to be aware of some of the risks. Controllable risks include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking. Uncontrollable risks include age, family history, gender and race.
Symptoms of AMD that would warrant contacting a health care provider include blurriness, wavy lines, or a blind spot. Someone with AMD may also notice visual distortions such as faces appearing wavy, doorways seeming crooked and objects appearing smaller or farther away.
“As AMD may display mild symptoms in the early stages for some individuals, 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,” says Dr. Malaz Safi, Ophthalmologist at Archview Medical Center.
If you notice any of the symptoms or irregularities with your eyes, contact Touchette’s Archview Medical Center at 618-857-2700 to make an appointment with our eye specialist to see how we can assist you with your eye health needs.
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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.