Macular Degeneration Treatment

Our doctors and staff are equipped and trained with the latest technologies to detect early signs of Macular Degeneration. During your comprehensive eye exam, our Optometrists will assess any risk factors that will indicate if further testing is necessary.

Macular Degeneration testing includes a dilated eye exam where we perform additional testing including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retina photos. This allows us to differentiate between Dry and Wet Macular Degeneration.

What is Age-related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a disease that causes blur in your central vision. AMD happens when damage is caused to the macula. The macula is the part of the retina that controls your central vision and provides that sharp detail that allows us to see.

AMD doesn't cause complete blindness, but the loss of central vision will make a significant impact on your daily life like reading, driving, and seeing faces. Unfortunately, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss for older adults.

How to Slow Macular Degeneration Progression

Treating AMD depends on the type and stage of the disease (Wet AMD vs Dry AMD). Wet AMD is more severe and is often treated with injections of medicines called anti-VEGF drugs.

Dry AMD has long been managed by being proactive through healthy choices like eating well, regular exercise, quitting smoking, and supplements proven to slow AMD.

Sherwood Park Eye Centre is home to MacuMira, the first clinically proven treatment for Dry AMD in North America.

Visit our blog to learn more about this ground breaking advancement in Dry AMD management with MacuMira.

The Difference Between Wet and Dry AMD

Dry AMD is the more common form, accounting for about 80-90% of cases. It occurs when macular tissues thin and small clumps of protein called drusen grow, leading to gradual vision loss. Dry AMD progresses slowly and can significantly affect central vision over time.

Wet AMD is less common but more severe. It happens when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak fluid or blood, causing rapid damage to the macula. This leads to quicker and more significant vision loss compared to dry AMD.

Regular eye exams are crucial for early detection and management of both types of AMD. While there is no cure, treatments are available to slow progression and manage symptoms.

What does AMD Stand For?

When researching eye disease online you may run into acronyms like AMD, DFE, or OCT and wonder what they might mean.

  • AMD means Age-Related Macular Degeneration
  • DFE means Dilated Fundus Examination
  • OCT means Ocular Coherence Tomography

These 3 acronyms will commonly be used when talking about macular degeneration so it is important to understand them. When our Optometrists are diagnosing AMD they will have you return for a Dilated Fundus Examination (fundus meaning the back of the eye, or the retina) and one of the tests performed will be the OCT to allow for a more in depth look at the macula. This test is non-invasive and our technicians are expertly trained to perform the testing for results you and your Optometrist will be confident in.

Adult eye exam
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MacuMira Treatment being performed on a patient

Consult with our team today!

Call one of our staff today to discover if you are a candidate for treatments, or to schedule an eye exam today!

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