Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration affects about 20 million Americans, causing gradual vision loss as the disease progresses. Nix Eye Care and Surgery offers comprehensive eye exams and imaging tests for adults and children to identify macular damage early. Thomas Nix, MD, designs a personalized treatment plan to improve your vision using prescription glasses, laser surgery, and other therapies. Dr. Nix also provides educational resources to protect your long-term eyesight. Call the Jonesboro, Arkansas, office today to schedule a macular degeneration evaluation. You can also book a consultation online.

What is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that affects the center of the retina (macula). There are two types of macular degeneration:

Dry AMD

Dry AMD is the most common type of macular degeneration. This condition develops when the light-sensitive cells in the macula break down, causing the gradual loss of central vision.

Wet AMD

Wet AMD develops when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina. The vessels leak fluids that rapidly damage the macula and lead to vision loss.

A primary risk factor of macular degeneration is aging. Age-related AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people aged 60 and over.  

Other AMD risk factors include:

• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Family history of AMD
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Nix Eye Care and Surgery offers personalized care for people with dry or wet macular degeneration. Dr. Nix uses the least invasive treatment to slow the progression of AMD and also provides prescription eyeglasses and other low-vision resources.

What are the symptoms of macular degeneration?

The macula is responsible for sending imaging from your optic nerve to your brain. A damaged macula interferes with your brain’s understanding of images, which affects your vision.

Macular degeneration may not cause symptoms until the disease becomes advanced. You might notice issues like:

• Low vision
• Blurred vision
• Dark spots in vision
• Differences in how you see colors 
• Straight lines appear to be curvy.

Dr. Nix offers complete eye exams to evaluate your retina and macula. He may also use optical coherence tomography (OCT), a noninvasive technology that takes detailed images of the retina and other structures in the back of the eye to confirm or rule out AMD.

How is macular degeneration treated?

There’s no cure for macular degeneration, but you can manage the condition to slow its progression.

Dr. Nix customizes a treatment plan based on the type of AMD you have. For age-related (dry) macular degeneration, he can recommend supplemental vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, zinc, and copper, to support eye health.

Wet AMD treatment includes injectable medications that block the production of proteins that play a role in abnormal blood vessel development.

Laser treatments to seal and destroy blood vessels that leak fluids may also be an option in people with wet AMD.

Call Nix Eye Care and Surgery today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation of macular degeneration symptoms or book a consultation online.