Macular Degeneration Treatment in Miami – Retina Associates of Miami
Macular Degeneration Surgeons Serving Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Aventura and Throughout South Florida
What Is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is the breakdown of the eye’s macula, the area of the retina (the light-sensitive tissue lining back of the eye) responsible for clear pinpoint or central vision. It is an age-related condition that typically affects individuals over the age of 60. For this reason, it is also referred to as AMD or ARMD, short for age-related macular degeneration. When affected by macular degeneration, most patients experience blurry, dark or distorted central vision.
Although macular degeneration is an age-related loss of central vision and is more common in patients with light colored eyes, the risk of developing AMD can also be increased due to:
- Race (white people are at higher risk than black people)
- Sex (women face a higher risk than men)
- Heredity (a family history of the disease increases one’s risk)
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
If you are experiencing poor central vision or have difficulty reading, driving and recognizing faces, please contact the Miami retina surgeons of Retina Associates of Miami at either of our office locations.
Drs. Levy and Taher are highly skilled Miami macular degeneration treatment providers who have garnered admiration throughout South Florida for their effective treatment of macular degeneration and high quality of patient care.
Types of Macular Degeneration
There are two types of macular degeneration:
- Dry (atrophic/non-neovascular) AMD
- Wet (exudative/neovascular) AMD
Dry AMD is the more common type of the two, representing approximately 90 percent of all AMD cases. Dry AMD leads to accumulation of drusen (yellowish spots believed to be debris from deteriorating tissue), thus resulting in thinning of macular tissue and progressive loss of central vision. Wet AMD affects about 10 percent of all AMD patients. It leads to growth of blood vessels in the macula, which gradually begin to leak blood and fluid, thereby causing permanent damage to retinal cells and resulting in severe loss of central vision, if untreated.
Diagnosing Macular Degeneration
Early signs of macular degeneration are usually detected during a routine retinal exam. If AMD is suspected, a graph called the Amsler grid is used to evaluate central vision and confirm vision loss, at which point Dr. Levy or Dr. Taher may use one of the following diagnostic technologies to determine the type of AMD and develop an effective treatment plan:
- Fluorescein angiography exam
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
Fluorescein angiography involves injecting fluorescent dye into a vein in the arm, after which the dye travels to the blood vessels in the eye and illuminates the retina, thereby allowing Miami macular degeneration physicians Drs. Levy and Taher to obtain high-quality images of the macula.
OCT is advanced imaging technology that delivers images of the retina at a much higher resolution than any other diagnostic platform available today.
Macular Degeneration Treatment Options
While there is no cure for AMD, Retina Associates of Miami offers advanced treatments that slow the progression of the condition and, in some cases, may even restore some lost vision.
Treatment of dry AMD is generally aimed at preventing progression of the condition through nutritional intervention and frequent retinal exams. Patients who have advanced dry AMD are usually advised to increase their intake of zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamins A, C, D and E, all of which are believed to slow the progression of dry AMD. Dietary modifications are also recommended and include increasing intake of spinach (if you are not taking a blood thinner), carrots, blueberries, fish and nuts. Patients who smoke should not take vitamin A or beta carotene supplements, which have been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Smoking and being overweight are the only known modifiable risk factors for progression of AMD. Drs. Levy and Taher encourage their patients with AMD to stop smoking and maintain a diet and lifestyle that increases their lean body mass.
Wet AMD is generally managed through the following treatments:
- Anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) injections (Avastin, Lucentis, Macugen, and EYLEA, also known as VEGF Trap-Eye)
- Photodynamic laser therapy (PDT) with Visudyne
- Steroid injections
Wet AMD treatments, including laser beams and injectable drugs, focus on damaging and inhibiting the growth of the abnormally developed blood vessels in order to prevent them from leaking and spreading. AMD treatments may also be combined for optimal results and, in many cases, can effectively halt the progression of AMD and improve vision. Re-treatment is often necessary for years.
Can Macular Degeneration Cause Blindness?
While macular degeneration can lead to significant central vision loss, the condition does not cause complete blindness. Individuals who suffer from severe AMD are still able to use their peripheral vision and, with the assistance of low-vision devices, can learn how to function effectively.
The key to preventing advanced AMD and severe loss of central vision is early detection, so please contact our North Miami Beach office at (305) 655-0411 or our Coral Gables office at (305) 666-8850 to schedule your retinal exam. For additional information on AMD, please see our video Understanding Macular Degeneration.
As highly qualified retina surgeons in Miami, Drs. Levy and Taher also offer comprehensive, top-notch care for Miami diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment patients.
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