Macular Degeneration Symptoms Test

Having eye disease management is vital if you are suffering from macular degeneration. The optometrist at Arvada Optometric Center in Arvada, CO, provides the services you require to manage macular degeneration. Our eye doctor has experience with eye disease and will give you the tests and care you need.

What Is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is a deterioration of the macula, which is the area of the retina that deals with central vision. It affects the clarity of vision and the ability to see fine detail and color. Most macular degeneration happens in people over the age of 60. It is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration due to this. The two types that may affect vision are dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration.

Symptoms

The two types of macular degeneration are very different in both causes and symptoms. The loss of vision is slower and caused by spots of a protein called drusen with dry macular degeneration. The cause of wet macular degeneration is new blood vessels that grow under the retina and leak fluid. This also causes scarring.

Tests

The Amsler grid test may be the first test used. An Amsler grid has a grid of straight lines with a large dot in the center. You will notice any blurry, distorted, or blank spots in your vision while looking at this grid. Your optometrist will use dilating eye drops to look at changes in the retina. Your eye doctor will also use optical coherence tomography to look closely at your retina and see if there are drusen present.

Another test that your eye doctor may use is fluorescein angiography. Your eye doctor will inject a yellow dye called fluorescein into a vein in your arm. This dye will let your doctor see if there are new blood vessels under your retina. This test shows the presence of wet macular degeneration.

See Your Eye Doctor in Arvada, CO, Today

You must have eye disease management for your macular degeneration to protect your vision, so contact the optometrist at Arvada Optometric Center in Arvada, CO, to get the vision care you need. Give our office a call today at 303-424-5282 for an appointment.