The following information is presented to you to describe each of the most common retinal diseases treated by ophthalmologists throughout the US. In every disorder you will notice that there is no treatment available to either correct, reverse, or delay the further progression of any of the diseases discussed.

The Pittsburgh Eye Protocol has the ability to do All Three.

Macular degeneration is a type of eye disease that generally affects people aged 50 years old and above. As such, it is often considered an age-related disease. To understand macular degeneration, we must first know that part of the eye the disease affects, the macula.

The macula is a part of the retina that can be found in its center, and the retina is that part of the eye that is responsible for one's central vision. In other words, the retina is that part of the eye that enables you to see objects, words, paths, and everything else that are directly in front of you or within your direct line of vision. When you have macular degeneration, you find it difficult to see whatever is in front of you.

Here are a few things to know about this particular eye disease:

Who is at risk of developing the disease?

Age alone doesn't determine whether or not you will develop the disease. Believe it or not, there are older individuals, men and women in their late 50's or 60's, who have an almost perfect vision. If anything, they only require glasses when reading small print otherwise, they have no problem with their central and peripheral vision.

A person is at risk of developing the disease if they have a family history of retinal diseases, specifically, macular degeneration. Other factors include unhealthy lifestyle (smoking, and poor diet especially frequent consumption of foods high in saturated fats), obesity, and hypertension. Also, the disease appears to be more common in Caucasians than other races or ethnicities. So, if you are white, have a family history of macular degeneration, are overweight or obese, and you smoke, you may be at risk for developing the disease regardless of age.

What are the common symptoms to watch out for?

In its early stage, you generally won't notice any changes in your vision. It's only when the disease has progressed that symptoms will begin to appear. The most common symptoms include blurred vision, low vision, difficulty seeing in low light or at nighttime, and straight lines that appear curved or wavy.

Are there different types of macular degeneration?

Yes, there are two types of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Wet or exudative macular degeneration happens when blood vessels begin to form on the retina and macula, which eventually causes blood and fluid to leak. Over time, a bulge or bump forms on the macula, affecting your central vision.

Dry or atrophic macular degeneration, on the other hand, is caused by protein deposits that develop under the macula. When this builds up, it will cause the macula to become thin and dry. This likewise negatively impacts your central vision.

The disease may not cause one to go completely blind, but it will still impact your day-to-day. Driving, doing errands, or doing chores may be more difficult if your central vision is compromised. Find out how the Pittsburgh Eye Protocol program can help improve your vision here.