How To Diagnose Macular Degeneration?

Answer 1

you get macular degeneration from getting repeated sunburns

Macular degeneration (AMD) is the result of many different processes that lead to degeneration or dying of photoreceptor cells in the macula. The macula is a tiny spot in the center of the retina. It is responsible for our straight ahead or central vision. The vision that is required to read a book or recognize a face. Peripheral vision is still functioning.

When circulation to the macula is hindered, nutrients and oxygen are unable to nourish it and waste products build up causing even more harm. Genes play an important role in causing macular degeneration. Those who smoke are at a much higher risk of developing AMD because of the damage that it causes to the blood vessels. Those with high blood pressure are also at greater risk, because of the silent damage from hypertension to the artery walls. The aging process from oxidation leads to degenerative diseases like AMD as does chronic inflammation.

Answer 2

The first person that may identify the first signs of macular degeneration is your eye health professional. During an eye exam, your eye doctor will check your retina and look for small yellow dots or deposits called macular drusen and for pigment changes.

These changes can occur before a person notices any changes in their vision. There are other tests your eye doctor can perform to make a diagnosis of macular degeneration. You can find out what they are by visiting the posted link:

Answer 3

There are several tests to determine if a patient has macular degeneration. One of the earliest signs of macular degeneration is the presence of drusen. Macular drusen are small, yellow deposits of waste material. For many people the deposits can be harmless, while for others it can indicate that the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the macula and the removal of built up waste products is not working effectively.

Macular drusen can be detected during a regular eye exam when the pupils are dilated and the eye doctor can look at the back of the eye.

Distortion of vision can be checked by using an Amsler Grid. If straight lines appear wavy or if there are areas of central vision where there is a gray or black spot, the eye doctor may decide to run further tests to check for leaking blood vessels under the macula, a small, but vital spot, in the center of the retina that is responsible for our straight ahead vision.

Answer 4

Tests for MD include: An Amsler grid, a checkerboard pattern with a black dot at the center.