(PreserveMacForte.com) As Macular Degeneration Week wound down last week, Armidale’s only opthamologist, Mark Morgan, considered why so many people in the region end up getting age-related macular degeneration (AMD), reported The Armidale Express.

A published study showed that of 150 electorates, New England ranks at No. 37 in terms of AMD rates. The article noted that this reality means that Dr. Morgan seems between 70 and 80 patients each week about AMD-related issues.

According to the article, Dr. Morgan said that AMD patients’ find that they increasingly have a difficult time recognizing the faces of even people they know. They might also see black patches that hinder their vision. They also might experience distorted vision, which is another sign of central vision loss. He said in the article that people who are older than 50 should head over to their eye doctor to get an eye exam since one in seven people in that age classification have symptoms of AMD.

According to previous reports, there are two kinds of AMD, those being dry AMD and wet AMD. Only a small fraction of the people who are diagnosed with dry AMD end up getting wet AMD, the more serious of the two kinds. Wet AMD is caused when abnormal blood vessels grow and leak blood and other liquids that damage the eye. Timely diagnosis is the key for treating AMD. If the eye condition is diagnosed early, eye doctors will have more options at their disposal when it comes to treatment. However, if diagnosis comes later, the range of treatment options will shrink dramatically.

An annual eye exam is usually recommended for those who want to protect their eye health. People who have a family history of AMD might need to make more frequent visits to their eye doctor since the odds of getting the eye ailment is higher for those who have a family history of age-related macular degeneration. People who fall into this category should consult their eye doctor to determine how often they need to be tested.

Besides eye exams, there are other things people can do to protect their sight. For example, studies have shown that eating lots of leafy green vegetables can help ward off AMD.

Reference: http://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/1538858/seeing-a-growing-pain-in-new-england/?cs=12