Macular degeneration is a serious condition that many people unfortunately develop in their eyes. Just like the rest of the body, the eye begins to age as the years tick by and as it does so, the macular part of the eye starts to break down. The macular is the central part of the retina and is the area where the fine detail of sight is formed so it is very important. As the macular degenerates blurred vision occurs. This is the often the first sign that something is wrong with the eye. Distorted vision is also a symptom and if either of these conditions occur you should visit your nearest eye doctor as soon as possible. The condition can be treated, but like all illnesses, the quicker it can be caught the better. If left completely untreated macular degeneration can lead to blindness.

It isn't completely accurate to refer to just one condition known as macular degeneration. In fact there is dry age related macular degeneration, and wet age related macular degeneration. Dry AMD develops very slowly and is caused by the light sensitive cells breaking down as described above. Wet AMD is much rarer and is more serious too as it is more likely to lead to complete blindness if not treated. This occurs when the blood vessels in the eye begin to grow at an abnormal rate. This growth forces the retina away from the eye wall and this detachment is extremely serious and will eventually lead to blindness. The signs of wet AMD are seeing straight lines as slightly curved and medical attention is vital immediately.

There are treatments available for both these conditions. Dry AMD is the much less serious condition of the two, and even making a few lifestyle changes can go some way to keeping the condition from worsening. Dry AMD occurs through the aging of the eye, so you can slow this down considerably by making your eyes more healthy and strong. This can be done through making healthy lifestyle changes and carrying out special eye exercises too. The condition can be slowed right down with simple changes to your everyday life such as these. Eating plenty of vegetables that are rich in vitamins and minerals is vital too.

When it comes to wet AMD there are a few choices available. If the condition is in the early stages then the eye doctor may well prescribe a course of injections with an anti-vascular endothelial growth drug. If the condition is too advanced or if these drugs do not help the problem then laser treatment may be able to stop the progression of the problem, although it cannot return vision that has been lost. Eye surgery is quick and painless and the recovery period is short. That makes it a viable option for many people. Whilst the cost of such a treatment was extremely high many years ago, today the price is much more affordable.

Because it is able to halt the growth of problems such as macular degeneration, laser eye surgery is extremely popular and has helped thousands of people across the UK.

Regular eye check ups are absolutely vital if you want to catch any problems such as this early on. As well as regular check ups you should also ensure you keep strong and healthy by eating the right foods and getting plenty of exercise. If your body is fit and healthy then the chances are good that your eyes will stay fit and healthy too.

There is a selection of macular degeneration treatment available and your eye doctor will prescribe that which is the most appropriate. Laser vision correction surgery is an effective way to restore sight and prevent the condition from worsening. Laser eye surgery can be used to treat other conditions too for example it is highly effective in cataracts surgery.