Wet VS Dry Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss in adult patients. As part of the natural aging process, the macula (the central part of the retina) may start to decline which results in age-related macular degeneration. Typically patients will begin to experience a loss of the ability to recognize faces and see other things up close. Also, individuals with macular degeneration experience the inability to read or drive.

There are two types of macular degeneration: both wet and dry. But what are the differences between these two diseases? Let’s take a closer look.

Dry Macular Degeneration

Dry macular degeneration of DMD is the most common form that we see patients for. This form of macular degeneration starts when yellow spots build on the retina and begin to multiply. The tricky thing about DMD is that because symptoms start slowly, once it gets into advanced stages, you are more susceptible to getting permanent vision loss.

Wet Macular Degeneration

Even though wet macular degeneration is less common than dry macular degeneration, it is more likely to result in permanent vision loss. During this type of macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels develop inside of the retina and start to leak fluid and blood, which can lead to permanent scarring and may distort your vision.

The tricky thing about macular degeneration is that we don’t yet have a cure for it. As long as we catch it early on, however, we can typically treat it fairly quickly. If you start to experience central vision loss or blurriness, contact our La Mesa office at (619) 378-3203. In addition to coming into our office if you experience these symptoms, come into our office for regular eye exams; that way, we can detect any symptoms or signs of this disease in the early stages.