Page 15 - Leisure Living Magazine May 2018

Are My Eyes Old Or Is
There A Problem?
By Dr. Jason Kolodziejczyk, Eye Centers of Northwest Ohio
It is widely known that the risks of certain ailments will increase with your birthday experi- ence. Your joints may be a little stiff in the morn- ing, you move a little slower than you once did and the aches in your body help you predict the weather with greater accuracy than the weather- man. However, diminished vision may not neces- sarily be a byproduct of getting older.
Age related macular degeneration or ARMD is a disease that affects your macula. The macula is the small spot in the center of your retina. The retina is the tissue that captures images that you see. The macula is the specialized section respon- sible for your sharp, detailed vision. ARMD is a disease that is painless and can progress slowly enough that you are not even aware your vision is changing. It can also be fast acting and progress quickly. Left untreated it could lead to blindness. According to the National Institute of Health,
ARMD is the leading cause of blindness in Amer- ica in those individuals 60 + years of age. 1
Thankfully your eye doctor can detect small changes in the macula and begin preventive mea- sures long before vision loss occurs. Like most diseases it is critical to discover ARMD early and begin treatment to preserve the sight you have. This is just one of many reasons for hav- ing yearly dilated eye exams. Dilating the eye allows the pupil to become large enough that the retina can be closely examined. An Amsler Grid is a great screening tool to monitor change. This grid is made of straight lines that look like a checkerboard. Changes in the Amsler Grid can sometimes detect progression in ARMD. If lines appear bent or curved or missing altogether it could be a sign of progression. With the advent of technology scans of the retina can be done to
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