January 25, 2009

Questions for Your Wet & Dry Macular Degeneration Eye Exam

Macular Degeneration Test | Comments (0) admin @ 4:05 pm

You’ve done your Amsler grid test (Macular Degeneration Test You Can Do at Home) and you’re going for a formal macular degeneration eye exam.

The eye specialist will give you visual acuity tests, and probably use the Amsler grid too. Then he or she will put drops in your eyes to dilate the pupils, and examine your retina with the help of magnification.

Here are some questions for your eye specialist:

    •    Do you see drusen (deposits) in my eyes?
    •    Are they large or small drusen?
    •    Are they near the macula?
    •    How many drusen are there?

Drusen in your eyes don’t necessarily mean you have macular degeneration. You can have drusen for years without your vision being affected. And drusen far from the macula may not be a problem at all. But if you have these deposits there’s the risk you’ll develop AMD.

More than a few medium-sized macular drusen or one large one indicate dry macular degeneration. The cells of the retina can then wear thin, lose pigment or disappear.

Remember there are two types of macular degeneration, ‘dry’ and ‘wet’. They are not mutually exclusive. Dry macular degeneration can develop into wet. Less than 10% of people with macular drusen develop wet AMD. The wet form is far less common, but more severe in its effects.

In wet (neovascular) AMD, abnormal blood vessels develop beneath the retina. These leak fluid and bleed. Swelling and scarring causes distorted vision and ultimately blindness.
 
So these questions relate to signs of wet AMD:

    •    Does my retina look raised?
    •    Do you see any abnormal blood vessels?
    •    Is there any bleeding, or leaking fluid visible at the back of the retina?
    •    Can you see any other abnormality?

A further test for wet macular degeneration is called fluorescein angiography. The specialist injects dye into your arm, and photographs your eye as the dye enters the blood vessels behind it.

The short video below explains wet and dry macular degeneration using diagrams.

Protect your sight -  Take a macular support supplement  - Whatever your macular degeneration eye exam shows, and whether or not you have macular drusen, specific nutrients in this supplement work together for the health of your eyes.

Remember, the National Eye Institute reported there’s ONLY ONE established method for treating AMD, particularly dry macular degeneration, and that’s taking an oral nutritional supplement. We recommend  Visulyn. 

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January 24, 2009

Avoiding Eye Degeneration: Macular Treatment Starts With Testing

Macular Degeneration Test | Comments (0) admin @ 5:11 pm

Are you concerned about eye degeneration? Macular treatment and macular health depend on many factors, but eye testing will tell you whether or not you have AMD. Like many diseases and degenerative conditions, eye problems if detected early stand a better chance of successful treatment.

If you are in a high risk group, i.e. Caucasian, female, over 55, diabetic, with a family history of eye disease, overweight or experiencing vision problems, you should stay aware of your general eye health on a daily basis.
  
Take note of how your vision responds in certain situations. Does it take a long time for your eyes to adjust to darkness? Is there any blurriness in the centre of your vision? Do straight lines appear wavy? Any of these symptoms could be indications of AMD.

Also watch out for blurred vision at the outer edges of your sight. Peripheral vision problems could signal glaucoma. If glaucoma is caught early it can generally be treated quite easily with eye drops.

As well as being aware of your vision specifics, have regular eye exams.

How Often Should You Have Your Eyes Tested?

Some experts advise that you take the Amsler Grid test every day. You can view a video demonstration of the Amsler Grid in our post titled Macular Degeneration Test You Can Do At Home.

You can download an Amsler Grid in PDF form by visiting My Vision Test at http://www.myvisiontest.com/amslergrid.php.

They also offer two new vision tests you can take, based on the Amsler Grid model. The new tests can pick up vision changes in ways that the original Amsler Grid may miss. Take the vision tests at http://www.myvisiontest.com/exam.php.

Other than your own daily testing experts suggest that older people should have their eyes checked at least once a year.

If you cannot afford vision testing, The National Eye Institute lists organizations that provide financial aid for eye care. Visit http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/financialaid.asp

In Australia eye testing is free under Medicare.

In the UK free eye testing is available to people in certain situations. To find out more visit http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/895.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=157

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January 17, 2009

Macular Degeneration Test You Can Do at Home

Macular Degeneration Test | Comments (2) admin @ 5:05 pm

There’s a macular degeneration test you can do at home quite easily. It uses a grid, called the ‘Amsler grid’ (used by eye doctors) to quickly assess if your vision is normal or damaged.

It works best with a printed version taped to the wall at eye height. Even looking at rows of fenceposts or any regular straight lines could give a similar indication (chances are you’ll already have noticed if there’s anything odd, but this test helps us become more aware of vision changes). Eye doctors often suggest testing yourself regularly with the Amsler grid test.

Check out this video on the Amsler grid to see how this macular degeneration test works.

Did you cover one eye for a quick self-test on the grid in the video?

If you use an Amsler grid printout, here’s how you do it:

  • do the test in good lighting
  • wear your glasses or contact lenses if you use any for reading
  • look at the grid from about 14" away, with the  central dot at eye level
  • cover one eye
  • focus on the central dot
  • take note: can you see all 4 corners of the grid?
  • are there any blank/missing areas or dark spots?
  • are any lines distorted, wavy or blurred?
  • repeat with the other eye

This Amsler grid test can show up damage to the macula or to the optic nerve, which could be due to macular degeneration or glaucoma. Another thing to be aware of is that some people with AMD may not see distortions - so a clear result from this test isn’t an absolute guarantee of freedom from macular degeneration. Have a complete eye exam with an eye care professional for more accurate results.

Macular degeneration treatments are constantly being researched. See our treatment tips and information on eye health nutrients to protect your sight.

For the most effective natural treatment of macular degeneration eye conditions, we recommend taking a quality eye health supplement. To find out more click here.

 

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