Macular degeneration, especially in the form of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is a common disorder, affecting almost 1.75 million adults over age 40 in the United States. At Dr. Kevin Gunnerson’s office, he specializes in the early signs of AMD in his older patients in Moberly, Missouri, allowing time for him to slow the progression of the disease. If you’d like to learn more about macular degeneration and how to prevent central vision loss, call the office or use the online scheduler to book an appointment.
There are different types of macular degeneration, but age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is far and away the most prevalent. With AMD, your macula, which is located near the center of your retina, becomes damaged by small deposits of protein called drusen, limiting your central vision.
There’s no known cause of AMD, so there is no cure, but there are steps Dr. Gunnerson and his team can take to help you manage the condition.
AMD can progress slowly with some people, or more quickly in others. No matter the speed with which the disease progresses, the most common warning signs are blurry or clear spots in your central vision. These spots can get progressively larger, seriously hampering your ability to see straight ahead.
AMD doesn’t lead to total blindness since your peripheral vision remains intact, but it can have a serious impact on how you function, affecting everything from driving to reading.
As the name implies, you're more at risk for AMD the older you get. Outside of age, however, other factors make you more prone to the disease, such as:
Since there is known cause of AMD, there’s no cure for the condition. But don’t let that fact discourage you. The earlier Dr. Gunnerson is able to intercede in your AMD, the more he can do to slow its progress and mitigate the side effects.
With lifestyle changes, dietary supplements that support eye health, and corrective lenses, Dr. Gunnerson provides you with some valuable tools to slow or stop AMD from claiming your central vision.
If you suspect you may have macular degeneration, call Dr. Kevin Gunnerson to get checked out or you can click the online booking button to schedule a consultation.
