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Boulder Eye Surgeons- Arapahoe

4745 Arapahoe Ave. #100, Boulder, CO 80303
(303) 444-3000

Boulder Eye Surgeons/Panorama LASIK

1810 30th St. Suite B, Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 499-2020
(Formerly Boulder Eyes/Beyer LASIK)

Boulder Eye Surgeons - Erie

101 Erie Parkway, Suite 202, Erie, CO 80516
(720) 526-0010

Retina

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Retina Treatment

Macular degeneration is the most common cause of legal blindness in developed countries and affects up to 1 in 10 patients over the age of 60 in the United States. Macular degeneration affects the central portion of the retina, the layer of tissue which detects light and lines the inner surface of the eye (similar to the film of a camera). As the disease progresses, the central portion of the retina is damaged and results in a decrease in the central vision.

age-related-macular-degeneration-simulation
Simulation of the distorted central vision of a patient with macular degeneration.
age-related-macular-degeneration-patient

Picture of the retina of a patient with macular degeneration. Notice the yellowish deposits (drusen) in the center of the picture.

Damage to the retina can be seen by your eye doctor in the form of yellowish deposits in the retina (drusen) in the early form of the disease and by atrophy (or cell death) as the macular degeneration progresses.

About 10% of patients develop blood vessel growth (neovascularization) underneath the retina, which can lead to a precipitous drop in vision. This is called the “wet” form of AMD. In some of these patients, the use of a laser to destroy the abnormal blood vessels can help stabilize the vision.

The vast majority of patients with macular degeneration have the “dry” form of AMD, in which the progression of the disease is slow and is related to a gradual cellular death in the central retina (atrophy). Until recently, there was no scientifically proven treatment for these patients. However, a recent study (the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, or AREDS) funded by the National Eye Institute revealed that daily supplementation with vitamins A, C, E, and zinc delayed the progression of macular degeneration.  In patients with intermediate or advanced forms of macular degeneration, supplementation with antioxidants plus zinc decreased their risk for advancement by 25% over the follow-up period! For more details of the results of this study, visit the National Eye Institute website.

Bausch + Lomb Ocuvite® PreserVision™

Based on this study, Boulder Eye Surgeons recommends that all patients with intermediate or advanced forms of macular degeneration take oral vitamin and zinc supplementation at the dosages used in the study (see below). Bausch and Lomb provided the vitamins used in the study and a new product, Ocuvite® PreserVision™, supplies the exact vitamin formulation used in the AREDS study. Other brands can be used but be sure that they contain the following vitamins and zinc in the dosages indicated: vitamin C, 500 mg; vitamin E, 400 IU; beta carotene, 15mg; zinc, 80 mg, as zinc oxide; and copper, 2 mg, as cupric oxide. Smokers should be careful taking high dosages of vitamin A, as some studies have shown this to increase mortality rates.

You can monitor your central vision for the progression of macular degeneration using an Amsler grid.  A rapid change in the central distortion of your vision may indicate the “wet” form of macular degeneration which may be amenable to laser treatment. The Amsler grid test consists of a grid of lines. The grid should be held about 12 inches from the eyes and each eye should be tested independently. While looking at the central dot with each eye separately, be sure that you can see all four corners of the grid. If not, or if any of the lines are blurry, wavy, distorted, bent, gray, or missing, you should call Boulder Eye Surgeons to have your eyes examined. We recommend using the grid at least once a week. You can remind yourself of this by placing the grid in a convenient place (i.e. on the refrigerator door or bathroom mirror). Use the grid below to take the test on your computer screen. Or, you can download the black-on-white version for printing.

image of amsler grid

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Our Doctors

Boulder Eye Surgeons has been providing comprehensive medical and surgical eye care since 1997. We help patients of all ages in Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, and throughout Colorado to achieve and maintain clear vision. Our goal is to provide professional, compassionate and customized eye care to every patient, every time. We strive to understand your needs and exceed your expectations.

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