6 Signs You Should See a Doctor About Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration affects almost 20 million people in the United States alone. This eye disease causes a typically slow loss of vision and mostly affects older adults. While there is not yet a cure, there are steps available to slow the progression of the disease. These steps are most effective when the disease is caught early. What are the signs of macular degeneration?
1. Blurry Vision
One of the first signs of macular degeneration that many people notice is a gradual blurring of their vision. The sharpness of their vision fades to fuzziness. Because macular degeneration develops slowly, you might simply think that you need to update your glasses prescription rather than suspect a disease. Your eye doctor can determine if the cause of your blurry vision is a change in your prescription or a developing disease process.
2. Poor Color Vision
Macular degeneration also affects how you see colors. For example, you may notice that shades of red have a brownish tint or blues look gray. Initially, your color vision will be distorted rather than shades of gray. Some people describe colors as looking muted or dull, and others say that colors seem darker.
3. A Dark Spot
As macular degeneration occurs, you may notice a dark spot in the center of your vision. Often, this is in one eye at first, but it can develop in both eyes at the same time. Eventually, many people will see dark spots in both eyes. These blind spots will grow over time until your vision is severely impaired and ultimately completely gone.
4. Wavy or Crooked Lines
As the macula is affected by the disease, straight lines may no longer look straight to you. For example, you may know that the table is straight, but the sides or legs may look crooked or wavy. The phenomenon can become more pronounced over time.
5. Distorted Shapes
In addition to noticing that straight lines are now wavy or crooked, you may also notice that entire shapes are distorted. For example, the rectangular table may look cinched up in the middle, or it may seem to flare on one side. A 90-degree angle may become more acute or obtuse. A round ball may look like an egg.
6. Difficult with Daily Activities
Each of these symptoms of macular degeneration develops over time. Often, the development is very slow. However, as the disease progresses, these symptoms make it more challenging to read, prepare food, and handle other daily activities. Your ability to drive a car may be impaired long before your vision is completely gone. In addition, you may no longer be able to see distinctive facial features and identify who is standing directly in front of you. By the time you are faced with these challenges, your disease has likely progressed to an advanced stage.
If you have noticed any of these concerning signs, it is important to seek medical attention promptly. An annual vision exam may also identify the disease early on, which enables you to get proper care as soon as possible.