Macular Degeneration
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Raphael E Rosenbaum, MD
Ophthalmologist & Uveitis Specialist located in Upper East Side, New York, NY; Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY; New Rochelle, NY; and Forest Hills, NY
Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss, especially in people over the age of 50. Raphael E. Rosenbaum, MD, and his team have considerable experience and expertise in helping their tri-state area patients manage and slow down the condition, helping them safeguard their vision. For more information about macular degeneration, call one of the four New York locations in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New Rochelle, and Forest Hills. Or you can use the online scheduler.
Macular Degeneration Q & A
What are the main types of macular degeneration?
Macular degeneration is a problem that develops in your retina, namely in the central portion known as the macula. This area of your retina is mainly responsible for your central vision, allowing you to read, drive, and make your way through your day knowing what’s right in front of you.
There are two main types of macular degeneration:
Dry macular degeneration
This form of macular degeneration accounts for upwards of 80% of all diagnoses and occurs when your macula grows thinner and small clumps of protein cluster together, forming what’s called drusen.
Wet macular degeneration
This less common form of macular degeneration happens when abnormal blood vessels leak into your retina and cause scarring in your macula. Wet macular degeneration progresses far more quickly than the dry version.
What are the symptoms of macular degeneration?
No matter which type of macular degeneration you have, the hallmark of the condition is a gradual loss of your central vision. This can occur in one or both eyes and may start with blurry vision in front of you, but as it progresses, you may begin to see dark spots in your central vision.
What causes macular degeneration?
Macular degeneration is commonly called age-related macular degeneration, which means that age plays a significant role in the development of the condition. Outside of age, macular degeneration is linked to the following risk factors:
- A diet high in saturated fats
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Genetics
Unfortunately, there’s no cure for macular degeneration, but there’s much that the team can do to slow and manage the disease.
How is macular degeneration treated?
If the team confirms macular degeneration, your treatment depends upon the stage of the disease. In the early stages, there’s much you can do through lifestyle changes to slow the progression of macular degeneration.
During the later stages of macular degeneration, Dr. Rosenbaum and his team may recommend supplements and vitamins that have been shown to help slow the vision loss. They may also recommend laser surgery and Avastin®, Eylea®, or Lucentis® injections that curb the growth of abnormal blood vessels.
Ultimately, the key to treating macular degeneration is expert monitoring by the team so they can step in where needed.
To learn more about your options with macular degeneration, call the office nearest you or request a consultation using the online scheduling tool.
