Glaucoma & Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration (MD) is a degenerative disease of the retina that causes gradual, painless loss of central vision. It mostly affects a person’s ability to read and see fine detail, which may also later affect driving and such things as recognising faces.
It is more common in older people, affecting one in seven over the age of 50, in Australia. A family history of Macular Degeneration gives you a 50 percent chance of developing the disease, and smokers are three times as likely to get it as non-smokers.
It has a better success rate of treatment if detected in its early stages, and at 20/20 Sight & Style we have invested in the latest technology to do this, with the Nidek OCT. Retinal photography and regular examinations are other tools we use to detect MD early, though the OCT will identify the disease 2-3 years earlier than a visual exam and imaging can do alone.
For more information, go to www.mdfoundation.com.au
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye diseases in which the optic nerve at the back of the eye is slowly destroyed. Most commonly, it is caused by raised pressure within the eye, though a “pressure test” alone is not enough to identify glaucoma, as some people develop it despite having low pressures. It has no symptoms in its early stages, and can only be detected by having a thorough eye examination, including the use of retinal photography and where indicated, OCT scanning.
Glaucoma develops slowly and often without symptoms in the early stages, and affects your peripheral vision and field of view. Make sure you don’t lose yours.
For more information, go to www.glaucoma.org.au