Macular dystrophy is a rare genetic eye disorder that affects the retina. It causes cell damage in the macula, which is responsible for your central vision. Unfortunately, there is no cure for macular dystrophy, but our optometrists at The Vision Center can help. If you live in Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, McKinney, or the surrounding areas, contact our team today!
Types of Macular Dystrophy
There are two types of macular dystrophy. The first is called Best disease, and it appears during childhood. This type is common in people that have a parent who has Best disease. This type causes various amounts of vision loss. The second type, VTM, starts in mid-adulthood and causes gradual vision loss.
The Symptoms of Macular Dystrophy
Macular dystrophy causes vision loss in your central vision. During the early stages, the vision loss is very minimal. As the disease progresses, it can become difficult to read, drive, recognize faces, or perform daily tasks that require you to look straight ahead. The vision loss is often gradual and worsens over time.
Diagnosing Macular Dystrophy
This condition can be diagnosed during an eye exam. If our eye doctors suspect you have macular dystrophy, we will perform further testing to confirm the diagnosis.
- Fluorescein angiography can detect retinal damage caused by macular dystrophy.
- Optical coherence tomography can be used to analyze eye tissue for lipofuscin, which is a waste material sloughed off from eye tissue that is deteriorating.
- An electroretinographic test can be used to determine how well the photoreceptors in your retina respond to light.
Treatment for Macular Dystrophy
As mentioned earlier, there is no cure for macular dystrophy. There has been scientific work with gene therapy and stem cells that has shown promise. Until a cure is found, our eye doctors can recommend low vision aids to help you see better and improve your overall quality of life. These include:
- Hand-held or standing magnifiers
- Full-diameter telescopes
- Prismatic reading glasses
- Computer software
- Video and digital magnifiers
Contact Us for Eye Health Services in Lubbock, TX
If you are experiencing central vision loss due to macular dystrophy, schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors at The Vision Center. We have locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, and McKinney. Our optometrists will perform the necessary tests to determine if you have macular dystrophy. We can also set you up with low vision aids to allow you to see better and improve your quality of life.