Saskatoon, SK / 306.978.2993
Saskatoon, SK / 306.978.2993
The macula is a small, very light-sensitive portion of the retina, the tissue covering the back of your eye. Your macula is responsible for central vision, the part of your vision that allows you to notice details, read text, and recognize faces.
Clear vision depends on the health of your macula. However, diseases like age-related macular degeneration can threaten your macular health. What’s worse is that diseases like AMD often develop without any noticeable symptoms. By the time a patient notices changes to their vision, their eyes may already be irreparably damaged.
The best way to ensure your macular health is by scheduling regular eye exams. Your eye care team can track changes in your vision and evaluate the health of your eyes’ inner structures like the macula.
Request an appointment for your eye exam today.
Age-related macular degeneration or AMD is a disease that causes permanent damage to the macula. There are 2 types or stages of AMD: dry AMD and wet AMD.
Dry AMD is the more common of the 2 disease types. Although it usually develops quite slowly, it can progress into wet AMD if it’s not managed properly.
Most adults will develop drusen, yellowish deposits of cellular waste that accumulate under the retina. Sometimes, these deposits get too big, developing on or around the macula. The drusen damage the macula cells, causing them to scar or bleed. If the cellular damage continues, it results in loss of central vision.
Although wet AMD is not as common as dry AMD, it is usually considered the more severe the 2 types.
As you age, the delicate blood vessels in your retina become weak and may start to bleed into your eye. Your body tries to replace the weakened blood vessels by growing new ones. However, the new blood vessels are usually irregular and easily damaged, which causes even more leaking into the retina.
This process causes scar tissue to develop, which causes loss of central vision.
Like many eye diseases, age-related macular degeneration often develops so slowly that the onset of symptoms is practically unnoticeable. Many patients do not experience the symptoms of AMD until their eyes have already sustained significant damage.
That’s why it’s so important to schedule annual eye exams. Your optometrist can use advanced imaging technology to evaluate your retinal health. Your eye health team may be able to detect structural changes within your eye long before you notice any symptoms.
Some of the symptoms of AMD may include:
Brighton Eyecare is conveniently located in Brighton Marketplace just off McCormond Drive, between Save on Foods and The Keg.
| Monday: | 8 AM - 5 PM |
| Tuesday: | 8 AM - 5 PM |
| Wednesday: | 8 AM - 5 PM |
| Thursday: | 12 PM - 8 PM |
| Friday: | 8 AM - 5 PM |
| Saturday: | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (with the exception of long weekends) |
| Sunday: | Closed |
We understand that life is busy, and it isn’t always convenient to take time out of your workday to visit your optometrist. To help serve you better, we offer Saturday appointments and have extended hours on Thursdays.
