Service description
Macular degeneration is the most common cause of visual loss in the elderly. It is more common in people with lighter colored eyes (blue and green), though it may occur in anyone. As a practitioner of ophthalmology in Brooklyn, Dr. Fell is a specialist in diagnosing and treating macular degeneration. The office is equipped with all the latest technology in order to evaluate and follow patients with this disease. Brighton Eye utilizes both digital imaging of the retina and ocular coherent tomography.
In her practice of ophthalmology in Brooklyn, Dr. Fell uses Avastin and Lucentis injections for patients afflicted with wet macular degeneration. These Intravitreal Injections are painless and sight saving and are done routinely in the office.
There are two types of Macular Degeneration: Dry and Wet.
Macular degeneration may cause no visual changes in some people and gradual loss of central vision in others. In dry macular degeneration, an abnormal fatty material called lipofuscin is deposited under the retina. This material forms white spots called Drusen. The central part of the retina can also atrophy (die), and this may lead to slow central loss of vision in the eyes. In wet macular degeneration, vessels beneath the retina bleed or leak, and patients can lose vision all of a sudden. Patients may also suddenly experience distortion in their vision. Straight lines, such as door frames, may appear wavy.
Central vision loss in macular degeneration
If we find advanced dry macular degeneration in your eyes, we will probably recommend that you take eye vitamins, like I-Caps, or Ocuvite twice a day. We have found, through years of practicing ophthalmology in Brooklyn, that although these vitamins will not improve your vision, they can help you maintain your current vision for longer.
Dry Macular Degeneration
For people with wet macular degeneration, we may offer injections of Lucentis or Avastin. These drugs help improve vision in many patients, if given at regular intervals.
Wet Macular Degeneration
For anybody with macular degeneration, we usually recommend looking at an Amsler grid once a month and making sure there are no missing spots or wavy lines. If patients see such changes on the Amsler grid, we want them to see us as soon as possible, because we can still help improve their vision early on.
Normal Amsler grid (left). Abnormal Amsler grid (right).
|