Medical Retina

Age-related macular degeneration or AMD is a common visual condition which involves damage to the macula, which affects the central vision.

The macula is a very small but important part of the eye. It is located at the centre of the retina and is responsible for seeing fine details clearly. Macular degeneration can make it difficult to see in many everyday situations from recognising faces to driving and reading.

Age-related macular degeneration typically affects people aged 50 or over.

Macular degeneration can occur in one or both eyes. It affects your central vision. It does not cause pain and does not affect the appearance of the eye. The earliest symptoms include distorted or blurred areas of vision. People with AMD often struggle to see things in the middle part of their vision and cannot see fine details either at a distance or close-up.

Other symptoms can include straight lines appearing wavy, colours seeming less bright and objects appearing smaller than they are.

There are two types of age-related macular degeneration.

The most common form is known as early or dry macular degeneration. This is caused by the retina thinning at the macular and also a build-up of waste materials under the macular area. Dry macular degeneration is a slow and less severe type of the condition, many patients maintain near normal vision.

The other type is known as wet macular degeneration. This unfortunately progresses quickly and can reach the vision-threatening later levels of the condition at speed. Wet AMD happens when abnormal blood vessels grow below the retina and begin to leak, limiting the function of the retina. Severe and permanent loss of the central vision is possible due to this bleeding. However, most patients maintain some sight as the periphery vision is not affected.

Your consultant will discuss the best treatment plan for age-related macular degeneration. Wet AMD can be treated effectively using intravitreal injections.

Get in touch to discuss your condition and how we can help.

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can lead to vision loss and blindness. It affects people who have diabetes and specifically affects the blood vessels in the retina. People with diabetes should ensure their eyes are regularly checked and a comprehensive dilated eye exam is vital at least once a year.

Diabetic retinopathy does not always present with symptoms initially, so ensuring you have regular eye tests and checks will ensure it is caught quickly and you can protect your vision. Managing diabetes can also help to protect your vision and minimise sight loss.

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by high blood sugar due to diabetes. Too much sugar in your blood can damage your retina just like many other areas of your body. The damage to your eyes begin when sugar begins to block the blood vessels that go to your retina, causing them to leak fluid. Your retina will grow new blood vessels but they usually do not work as well as the original ones.

If you live with any kind of diabetes then you are at risk of diabetic retinopathy. It can affect people with type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes. The risk factor increases the longer you have the condition and over time, over 50% of people with diabetes will develop the condition. However, it is possible to lower your risk with good control and management of your diabetes.

The best treatment for diabetic retinopathy depends on the stage of the condition. In the earliest stages you will probably only need additional checks and monitoring, which can mean a dilated eye exam every few months.

As the condition progresses you need to ensure you get treatment as quickly as possible, especially if you have experienced changes to your vision. You must also try to manage other aspects of your diabetes, your blood pressure and cholesterol too.

Treatment options for later stage diabetic retinopathy include medication via injection, laser treatment and in some instances surgery. If your retina is bleeding a lot or you have a lot of scars in your eye, your may require a type of surgery called a vitrectomy.

Get in touch today to explore options for treatment and how we can help.