Macular Degeneration Naples, FL

The most common cause of vision loss in the United States in people 50 and older is macular degeneration; Naples, FL citizens suffering this condition can come to Malkani Retina Center for state-of-the-art treatments such as laser photocoagulation to prevent further vision loss.

While there is currently no proven medical therapy for dry macular degeneration, laser treatments and photodynamic therapy are effective in sealing bleeding vessels in the macula for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Visiting Malkani Retina Center is your best chance for halting the effects of macular degeneration and saving your eyesight.

What Is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration affects more than 10 million Americans – more people than glaucoma and cataracts combined. It’s a prominent retinal disease due to the natural age-related deterioration of the central part of the retina, or the macula. The macula is responsible for sending images we see through the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. It controls our ability to drive, read, and see objects in detail. When the cells in the macula degenerate, they do not receive images correctly. This results in blurred or even completely lost central vision.

The two types of macular degeneration are wet and dry. The majority of cases are the dry type, or neovascular. About 10-15% of cases are the wet, or non-neovascular, type of macular degeneration. Naples, FL patients with the dry type experience less severe and more gradual vision loss than those with the wet type. Wet macular degeneration is the development of new blood vessels beneath the retina. These vessels are abnormal, and tend to break and leak into the macula. As of today, the exact cause of dry macular degeneration is unknown. Learn more about macular degeneration:

  1. Typically, macular degeneration is the result of aging, but it can also be from a person’s habits, such as smoking, nutrition, and sunlight exposure. It can also be a genetic condition. The causes of age-related macular degeneration are complex and involve a person’s environment and hereditary traits. Scientists are still working to discover the exact causes of this condition, but they do know the greatest risk factor is age.
  2. Since age-related macular degeneration is bilateral, meaning it occurs in both eyes, it is possible to experience the wet type in one eye and the dry type in the other. Symptoms of the dry type include gradual loss of central vision, such as difficulty reading or seeing fine details. In the wet type, patients will experience a sudden loss of central vision.
  3. Getting regular eye exams is important for catching macular degeneration early, as the patient won’t experience symptoms until there’s already been a level of permanent damage. Eye physicians diagnose age-related macular degeneration with vision tests, the Amsler grid test, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and ophthalmoscopy.
  4. Treatment options. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for dry macular degeneration. Naples, FL patients, however, can reduce their risk and slow down degeneration progression with early diagnosis. For wet macular degeneration, laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy can help prevent further vision loss, although they cannot restore lost vision.

Patients can help catch macular degeneration before it causes vision loss by doing at-home vision tests with the Amsler grid, which uses a black dot in the center of a grid. By covering one eye and focusing on the dot, you can test for signs of macular degeneration, such as black spots or blurred/wavy grid lines. Patients who believe they may have wet or dry macular degeneration in Naples, FL need to visit Malkani Retina Center for a professional eye exam and diagnosis.

Why Choose Dr. Malkani For Macular Degeneration Treatment?

While there is no known cure for age-related macular degeneration, doctors and retina specialists are constantly trying new things to treat the disease. Dr. Malkani published research as an investigator for a new treatment for macular degeneration called Genentech, or rhuFab V2. By keeping up-to-date with the latest news, trends, and technologies in vitreoretinal diseases and surgeries, Dr. Malkani gives his patients the best opportunity for macular degeneration care. Find out more about Dr. Malkani.

Dr. Malkani is highly trained and educated in the specialty of retinal diseases and conditions such as macular degeneration. Naples, FL patients who come to Malkani Retina Center are in the expert care of a renowned retinal surgeon who served as the Chief Resident in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of South Carolina, and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida. His many achievements, awards, and accomplishments mark him as one of the best retina surgeons in Southwest Florida.

Macular degeneration is a serious condition that can cost you your eyesight permanently. To save as much of your sight as possible and prevent further vision loss from this condition, you need reliable and skilled eye care. Dr. Malkani treats every patient like family, explaining the prognosis for each particular case and doing as much as possible to halt the progression of age-related macular degeneration before it causes further damage. Patients with macular degeneration in Naples, FL can trust Dr. Malkani and his friendly team of physicians for high-quality retinal care.

Schedule Your Appointment For Macular Degeneration In Naples, FL

If you’re due for a routine eye exam, have reason to believe you may have macular degeneration, or a physician has diagnosed you with macular degeneration, Naples, FL residents can come to Malkani Retina Center for expert services. From beginning to end, the physicians at Malkani Retina Center are by your side. We welcome you to our family, and treat you as we’d want to be treated. Whether you suffer from wet or dry, early-stage or severe macular degeneration, we have the solution you need to optimize your chances of halting vision loss.

Macular degeneration is a common yet complex eye issue. It deserves the careful attention of a qualified and experienced vitreoretinal surgeon. Dr. Malkani has the education and experience to know how best to handle macular degeneration. Naples, FL patients can call (239) 324-4888 or use our online contact form to get in touch with us today.

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