Macular Degeneration Treatment
If you believe you may have macular degeneration, schedule an evaluation today with the skilled eye doctors at Elmquist Eye Group to explore possible treatment options.
At Elmquist Eye Group, E. Trevor Elmquist, DO, founder, and Sarah Eccles-Brown, MD, are experienced board certified ophthalmologists, and Kate Wagner, OD, Dr. Elmquist’s partner, and Nina Burt, OD, are highly skilled board certified optometrists. No matter what type of concern you have about your eyes, our talented team offers a complete range of vision care.
Click on these links to learn more about some of the eye care services we provide.
- Diabetic Eye Exams
- Cataract Evaluations
- Refractive Cataract Surgery
- LASIK Evaluation & Surgery
- Blepharoplasty Evaluation & Surgery
- Glaucoma Evaluation & Treatment
- Macular Degeneration Evaluation
- Dry Eye Diagnosis & Treatment
- Blepharitis Treatment – Spa Scrubs
About Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is an eye condition that is related to aging. It is a deterioration or breakdown of the eye’s macula and is one of the leading causes of decreased vision in the U.S. in individuals over age 50.
Macular degeneration typically comes in two forms, known as “dry” AMD and “wet” AMD. Dry AMD is the most common form. It usually progresses slowly and causes central vision loss. Wet AMD is less common and more severe. It may progress rapidly, causing significant central vision loss.
Macular Degeneration Treatment
Although there is no cure for AMD, there are treatments that may delay its progression or even improve vision. Changes in diet and nutrition may keep dry AMD from getting worse. Wet AMD can be treated with laser surgery, photodynamic therapy (PDT) with or without injection of steroids into the eye, and drugs that are painlessly injected into the eye.
For people who have already experience significant vision loss from AMD, there are low vision devices that can help improve vision by using magnifying lenses and bright lights.
If we examine your eyes and determine that you have macular degeneration, we may refer you to a retinal specialist for treatment.
Importance of Comprehensive Eye Exams
Everyone in the family, including young children, should have their eyes examined regularly. It’s important to find eye and vision problems early when they are easier to treat.
A comprehensive dilated eye exam is often the only way to detect conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration which may have no symptoms in the early stages. With early detection, these conditions can be treated, reducing your risk of vision loss.
We may use medicated eye drops to dilate your pupils, opening them wider so that we can see the back part of your eye, including the retina and blood vessels. Your vision will temporarily be blurry, and you may have trouble focusing your eyes. We recommend that you bring a friend or family member to drive you home after your examination.
Elmquist Eye Group takes pride in offering expert eye care and a passion for providing the best service to our patients. To learn more about macular degeneration treatment, call us at (239) 936-2020 to schedule an appointment