National Age-Related Macular Degeneration & Low Vision Awareness Month

February is national age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and low vision awareness month!

Did you know the most common causes of low vision are age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy? 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that can blur your central vision. It happens when aging causes damage to the macula — the part of the eye that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision. 

AMD is a common condition, it’s the leading cause of vision loss in adults. AMD doesn’t cause complete blindness but losing your central vision can make it harder to see faces, read, drive, or do close-up work like cooking or fixing things around the house. It happens very slowly in some people and faster in others which I why it’s very important to get regular eye exams to prevent this. 

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. It is most common in older adults.

Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. The effect is so gradual that you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is at an advanced stage. Again, this is why it is so important to regularly schedule exams. 

If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or prevented. If you have the condition, you'll generally need treatment for the rest of your life.

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. 

Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. Eventually, cataracts will interfere with your vision.

At first, stronger lighting and eyeglasses can help you deal with cataracts, but you might need cataract surgery. Fortunately, cataract surgery is generally a safe, effective procedure.

Diabetes can cause a number of eye problems, but diabetic retinopathy, or DR, is the most common, and it can lead to vision loss or even blindness Anyone with any type of diabetes is at risk of developing DR and its complications like diabetic macular edema—and the risk increases the longer you have diabetes.

Make eye care a priority - early detection, routine monitoring, and potential treatment could make a difference.