Doctors in California Provide Low Vision Care

In California, if it seems that the number of those suffering from macular degeneration seems higher, it's only because so Californians are getting older. Although it occasionally strikes the young, macular degeneration is primarily a condition that comes as a result of the aging process. There is no cure, only prevention and treatment. Fortunately, Low vision Doctors in California are well-versed in the latest way to deal with this condition.

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is the result of damage to the macula, that region of the retina that is most important in central vision. When this begins to wither with age, it is known as the "dry form" of AMD, and is much more common. It is also the most treatable, as onset and progression is very slow. While the advanced stages of "dry" AMD cannot be prevented nor cured, research indicates that increasing one's dietary intake of leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale, or taking certain vitamin supplements and omega-3 fatty acids can delay symptoms when it is in its intermediate stages.

The "wet" variety of AMD is caused by the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye. When these leak, blood congeals underneath the retina, forming scar tissue that affects the macula and results in low vision. Recent advances in laser surgery have made such macular degeneration treatment in these cases much more feasible; however, the problem tends to recur over time.

Macular degeneration devices that includes special kinds of glasses and even high-tech devices such as miniature TV monitors and computer hardware is proving to be the most effective way for low vision doctors in California to help their patients in dealing with their condition. These low vision aids include bioptic glasses and similar magnifying devices; for computer users, speech-to-text and text-to-speech is a very viable solution, as well as special printers that are able to provide Braille documents in the most extreme cases.