Macular degeneration is a commonly experienced disorder of the eyes and cause loss of central vision. Central vision is usually what you see when looking ahead. There is also peripheral vision which is what you see on the sides as you look straight ahead. Macular degeneration does not however cause total blindness because it has no effect on peripheral vision. When suffering from macular degeneration Washington DC residents ought to know facts about the disease.

There are two major forms of the disease. The first is the dry type which is more common and affects about 85 percent of people suffering from the condition. It is caused by yellow deposits that are formed below the macular. After some time, the deposits will lead to damage of the retina and loss of vision. The second type is wet macular degeneration which affects approximately 15 percent of people suffering from the disease. Such people will usually see dark spots at the center of their vision which is brought about by bleeding of different vessels.

The condition tends to progress over a period of time, and gets worse. During the early stages, one might not notice any problems with their vision. Also, if both of the eyes are affected, you might not notice any change in your vision as the disease advances. Symptoms include difficulty in adapting to bright light, reduced central vision, blurred vision and trouble when it comes to recognizing faces.

The exact cause of macular degeneration has never been known. However, there are people who are at greater risk of developing it. It mostly affects people above 65 years, those who are Caucasian, people with cardiovascular disease and those who are overweight. You should schedule an annual eye examination to know whether you are suffering from it. The examination is important even for people who may feel their vision is normal. You should let the doctor know of any vision problems you could be experiencing.

There are various tests which need to be conducted to know whether one has the disease. For example, the doctor may use special type of eye drops to dilate eyes. After that is done, there is checking of back of the eyes for signs of blood, yellow deposits and fluids. At the same time, you will be asked to look at a grid so that your central vision is checked.

There is never really a cure for the condition but the doctor can recommend options for slowing it down. For those with dry macular degeneration, it is better to work with a low vision rehabilitation specialist. That specialist could teach you ways of adjusting and coping with loss of vision. There could also be surgery to improve vision, in which case there will be implanting of telescopic lens on the eyes. The lens magnifies field of vision.

In the case of the wet version, you also need to work with a vision specialist. In addition to that, there is medication that could be placed directly into the eyes to stop growth of blood any new blood vessels. It will take weeks before a difference can be seen.

There are a number of ways to minimize risk of suffering from the disease. For those who smoke, it will be advisable to stop. You will also be advised to get plenty of exercises and eat healthy. It is always important to have diagnosis done early.