There’s a big chance you may have heard of age-related macular degeneration from your eye doctor before, the number one cause of vision problems in Americans 50 years and older. Despite its commonness, AMD is still heavily misunderstood by many eye specialists. This results in dozens of myths and misconceptions about it among patients.
Its prevalence and prognosis makes AMD quite a scary prospect so it pays to understand more about this condition. Let our specialists at Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic shed some light on the mysteries that surround AMD and help you to better spot this eye condition even before it rears its ugly head.
This is a myth that many people believe, however, if you ask any eye doctor, they’ll likely give you the same answer. AMD manifests itself gradually and over long periods of time. The changes are subtle and hard to detect unless you are actively looking for it. For this reason, it’s recommended to have your eyes checked regularly as soon as you hit 50 years old and above. Consult with a specialist right away if you notice any changes in your vision.
This is not necessarily true. While it does lead to some vision loss, AMD mostly affects the macula or the central area of the retina. Even in worst case scenarios, it’s rare for AMD to cause total blindness as you’ll always be able to retain your peripheral vision, allowing you to lead a fairly normal life afterwards.
Your eye doctor is not likely to diagnose you with AMD unless you are above 50. AMD truly depends on age, and extremely rare for young people to develop the problem without any other related conditions.
At Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic, we are your leading provider of eye health care and optical services. Give us a call at (425) 771-8472 if you are in the Lynwood area, or (425) 485-0430 if you are in the Bothell area. You could also fill out our contact form to request a consultation with our specialists today. We serve Redmond, Kirkland, and nearby areas in WA.
