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Doctor insights on: Macular Degeneration Vs Glaucoma

Eye diseases: Both are incurable. Both have recommended treatment algorithms. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that generally affects peripheral vision first and moves inward late in disease to affect center vision. Macular degeneration is a disease of the macula (center of vision), that slowly robs the ability to read and see centrally without affecting peripheral vision. Both generally aging diseases. ...Read more

Depends: Family history (genetics) is a risk factor for both. We can not gauge your risk genetically yet. You should see your eye doctor on a regular basis (yearly) to surveil against these and other eye diseases. ...Read more

See below: Get coordinated care between your retina specialist and general ophthalmologist/glaucoma specialist. Come up with a plan all together. ...Read more

Be seen: It could be many things, including your causes. Be seen by an ophthalmologist for a thorough exam and diagnosis. ...Read more

Different Rx: Macular degeneration: dry: areds multivitamin supplement, green leafy vegetables high in lutein, uv protection, ?Possibly fish oil. Wet: laser, vedf intraocular injection. Narrow angle glaucoma: a laser iridotomy. ...Read more

Probably not: Both of these are typically slow developing diseases and can be identified early if you obtain routine visits with your ophthalmologist. ...Read more

Timolol eye drops: are used to lower eye pressure in patients with glaucoma. Side effects are mostly due to the timolol getting in your system through your tear drainage system. They include shortness of breath, low heart rate, tiredness, dry mouth, and decreased libido. The preservatives in these types of drops can cause eye redness, irritation, and blurry vision. Good luck. ...Read more

After images. : Light flashes in the eye after laser surgery are most likely after images. Usually they go away. Laser is used for glaucoma, diabetes, and retinal tears. It is less often used these days in macular degeneration. Light flashes can also be caused by retinal traction and impending retinal tear. A good thorough retinal exam will eliminate most causes for concern. ...Read more

Decreased vision: Both the wet and dry forms of armd cause decrease in central vision. Distortion is often an early symptom and an amsler grid is a good self screening tool. Vision loss from the dry form is usually slowly progressive and lessor in degree than the wet form which can have very dramatic decrease in vision that is rapid and significant. ...Read more

Vision changes: Best detected with an amsler grid (can use one off the computer). ...Read more

Vision changes: The first symptom most people experience with macular degeneration is a change in vision. An amsler grid is a simple screening tool available for home use that can allow patients who are at risk for macular degeneration to monitor for such changes. ...Read more

Wet and Dry: There are two general forms: dry about 85% which is the slow breakdown of macular pigment and vision decrease. The wet form has a more rapid progression with formation of new blood vessels, severe vision loss and occasionally intraocular hemorrhage. There are new medications which can address this. ...Read more

Very rare: The common type of macular degeneration is called amd, standing for "age-related macular degeneration", and the age is old age, usually over 60. However, there are rarer conditions of the retina that can lead to degeneration. Stargardt's disease, retinitis pigmentosa, pattern dystrophies of the retinal pigment epithelium, retinal cone dystrophies, and familial drusen can affect teens. ...Read more

Eye Exam: You need a complete eye exam to diagnose macular degeneration. You should see your ophthalmologist. ...Read more

Fairly common: Macular degeneration was the most common cause of legal blindness in individuals over 50. With modern treatment strategies, severe vision loss is much less common. Some degree of vision impairment usually develops with this chronic degenerative disease over time. The earliest symptoms include delay in adjusting to dim light ; needing more light to read. Visual acuity decline follows. ...Read more

Unfortunately not.: While there are ways to slow or treat the disease processes in age-related macular degeneration, particularly the wet form, there is presently no cure for the disease. ...Read more

No: Typical age related macular degeneration is not caused by trauma. It is a genetic condition which can be affected by nutritional and environmental factors. ...Read more

Not usually: Macular degeneration in its advanced state can cause blurring of vision. If the blur is isolated to only one eye, a loss of depth perception could theoretically cause a dizzy sensation. ...Read more

AREDS vitamins: The national eye institute did a study that showed that a particular vitamin formula called areds can help reduce progression of macular degenration in people with high risk characteristics. You should see your ophthalmologist to determine if you have these characteristics. There are particular eye vitamins that your eye md may recommend for your general ocular health. ...Read more

See below: Age-related macular degeneration (amd) only occurs in adults after one's forties. Diseases that may look like amd but happen earlier include macular dystrophy, best's disease, stargardt disease, among others. See a retina specialist. ...Read more