Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) accounts for more than 16,000 new cases of blindness each year. Problems with the macula, a part of the retina, cause loss of central vision. There are two types of ARMD, “dry” and “wet,” with the wet form being the more aggressive process.

In its early stages, ARMD silently destroys vision. Visual distortions (straight lines looking wavy or distorted) and difficulty adjusting when moving from a brightly-lit to a dimly-lit room may be the first signs of trouble; by that time, however, vision has been seriously and irreversibly damaged.

Treatments are becoming available for ARMD, but the best “treatment” is early detection. When the more serious “wet” form of ARMD is detected early, treatment with a laser may be able to slow its progression, but only one out of ten people with “wet” ARMD are diagnosed in time to benefit from the procedure.

Dr. Shiller can evaluate your risk of developing ARMD and recommend an appropriate schedule of eye exams to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of this and other serious, vision-threatening conditions.