Macular Health Clinic | Orillia Eye Care

Eye Care Is Central to Your Sight

Our eyesight is important to us. It enables us to take in ocean views, see the smiles on the faces of friends and family, and even drive to the store to get groceries.

Without sight, and particularly without central vision, life would be a lot more challenging. The macula is responsible for your central vision, and we have created our Macular Health Clinic around this all-important part of your eye.

We aim to help prevent age-related macular degeneration and equip our patients to look after their macular health.

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What Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs when the macula deteriorates.

There are 2 types of AMD—dry and wet. Dry AMD is the most common type, accounting for the majority of cases. It occurs when parts of the macula become thinner due to aging and accumulates tiny clumps of protein.

The disease is progressive, meaning that it usually occurs in stages. Like many eye diseases, it can present without any symptoms in the early stages. By the time the disease has advanced to show noticeable symptoms, it may be too late to stop vision loss.

There are fewer cases of wet AMD, yet this type is responsible for the majority of cases of AMD-related blindness. Wet AMD occurs when blood vessels grow under the retina, burst, and leak fluid into the macula. This can happen suddenly or be part of the disease’s progression.

To catch AMD before it leads to permanent vision loss, book an appointment with our team.

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Diagnosing Age-Related Macular Degeneration

There are 3 main signs to be on the lookout for when it comes to age-related macular degeneration:

Blurry spots in the central vision
Straight lines that appear wavy or curved
Poor night vision

We have invested in the tools and technology to diagnose this condition in its earliest stages.

AdaptDx

AMD can be diagnosed based on how quickly the eye regains sensitivity to the dark after being exposed to bright light. This is known as dark adaptation, and to measure it, we use the AdaptDx.

Poor dark adaptation is a sign of decreased macular function, allowing this test to find early macular degeneration years before visible signs. This allows for early intervention and treatment.

MP-Eye

The MP-eye device provides a macular pigment assessment. This tool allows us to gauge your natural defenses against damage to the macula. If your pigment density is low it can be an additional risk factor for developing macular degeneration and we can suggest dietary changes and supplements to help prevent damage.

Visual Field Testing

Visual field testing helps us assess any blind spots you may have. If you are consistently failing to notice things in your central vision, it may indicate the presence of AMD. When blind spots are confined to the peripheral vision, we know we need to keep an eye on the condition of your vision and watch for any additional AMD warning signs.

Risk Factors & Prevention

One of the main risk factors for age-related macular degeneration is right in the name—age. While we can’t do anything about that, there are other ways to mitigate your risk of developing this condition.

Stop smoking, or never start, avoid UV exposure with sunglasses and hats, get regular exercise, and keep your blood pressure under control. Be sure to have regular eye exams, so that we can monitor the health of your eyes, appointment after appointment.

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