| Betsy Graham of Baily, NC thought that her | | | | part of the entire retina, but it is the most |
| driving days were over. "I could not read the | | | | sensitive and gives us sharp images. |
| street signs soon enough and I couldn't pass the | | | | When it degenerates, macular degeneration leaves |
| vision test at the DMV office." | | | | a blind spot right in the center of vision making it |
| Bill Henderson of Belhaven, NC wanted to be able | | | | difficult to recognize faces, watch TV, read a |
| to read and write more easily. He wanted to see | | | | book, or pass the drivers vision test. |
| the nails and screws when he tried to use them in | | | | Major risk factors for macular degeneration |
| home repairs. He wanted to recognize people's | | | | include aging, smoking, and improper nutrition. |
| faces and see his grandchildren singing in the | | | | Vitamins can help. The results of two studies, |
| church choir. But he thought those days were | | | | AREDS and LAST demonstrated a lowered risk |
| over when he was diagnosed with macular | | | | of progression by about 25% when treated with |
| degeneration. | | | | a high-dose combination of vitamins and lutein, a |
| Neither Besty nor Bill knew that a low vision | | | | plant pigment derived from the marigold flower. |
| optometrist could help with some of those issues. | | | | Recent studies have also indicated that increased |
| In some states, telescopic glasses can be used to | | | | consumption of fish that are high in omega-3 |
| pass the vision test for driving. This can allow | | | | fatty acids may slow progression of the disease. |
| some with conditions like macular degeneration to | | | | Nine out of ten people who have macular |
| continue driving. | | | | degeneration have the dry type. The wet type is |
| "Amazing!" says Betsy. "I can read the street | | | | more aggressive and results in more dramatic |
| signs twice as far as I did before. I can now drive | | | | vision loss. It involves leaky blood vessels that can |
| to work, to the supermarket, and even see the | | | | sometimes be remedied with new injectable |
| television better ... I have my independence back!" | | | | medications, such as Macugen and Lucentis. |
| In Betsy's case, we also provided special reading | | | | A low vision evaluation is for anyone who, even |
| glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to | | | | with regular eyeglasses, cannot see well enough |
| read. | | | | to do what they want to do. While most patients |
| Macular Degeneration is the most common eye | | | | who consult with a low vision optometrist have |
| disease amongst the senior population. As many | | | | macular degeneration, help is also available for |
| as 25% of those over the age of 65 have some | | | | patients with diabetic retinopathy, inoperable |
| degree of degeneration. The macula is one small | | | | cataracts, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa. |