by Dr. Florence Fernet-Leclair, Central Saanich Optometry Clinic –
Do you enjoy outdoor activities such as golfing or sailing? Are you over 65 years of age? Do you have light-coloured eyes? Do you have a family member with macular degeneration? Have you had cataract surgery? Do you have cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure or diabetes? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you could be at higher risk of losing your eyesight to the number-one cause of blindness in Canada: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
What if I told you that you can lower the risk ? If macular degeneration is caught at an early stage, the condition is better managed. But of course, prevention is always best! We know that a healthy diet rich in orange and leafy green vegetables, supplementation of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, regular exercise, cessation of smoking and high-quality UV protection eyewear can help reduce the risk. Up to 80% of our world is perceived by our visual sense, so I ask you: how important is your eyesight ?
At the early stages of AMD, the symptoms may be subtle. Perhaps we may notice more glare while driving at night. In the later stages, the vision in the line of sight may become distorted, to the point where activities such as reading or driving safely may be compromised. The most aggressive form is called Wet AMD, and is caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina triggered by too much vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These blood vessels leak and can cause rapid loss of vision. With Wet AMD, when it rains it pours!
With cutting edge retinal scanning technology such as the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), your optometrist can diagnose any signs of AMD. It is crucial to treat Wet AMD as soon as possible, before too much fluid has had a chance to seep into the retina and change it forever. Think of the retina like a stack of tissue papers. If a drop falls on it, it is much easier to blot and dry it than if an entire glass of water soaked through it! No matter how much you tried to dry the tissue paper, it would never be the same.
To treat this, a retinal specialist needs to inject an anti-VEGF medication into the eye. Fortunately, this is one area of our medical system in which all your eyecare providers work well together. Frequent routine examinations and urgent care visits to your optometrist can help identify this condition at the earliest stages and facilitate your transfer of care to the specialist as soon as possible.
Together with your optometrist, it’s possible to do everything you can to maintain your wellness so that you may continue to enjoy everything life has to offer, from reading a good book, seeing your loved ones’ faces or enjoying all the sights of beautiful British Columbia.
