EYE CENTER OF MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS
  • Home
  • Physicians
    • Ihor Zachary, MD, FACS
    • Michael Zgrabik, MD, FACS
  • Services
    • Ophthalmology
    • Cosmetic Procedures
    • Contact Lenses
    • On-Site Optical Shop
    • Billing/Insurance Department
    • Surgical/Diagnostic Department
  • EYE CENTERS
    • General Eye Care Center >
      • Refractive Error
      • Pediatric Ophthalmology
      • Ocular Migraine
      • How to Insert Eye Drops
      • Optical Shop
    • Cataract Center >
      • What is a Cataract?
      • Cataract Surgery
      • Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery
      • ORA System™
      • Intraocular Lenses
      • Post-operative Cataract Surgery Instructions
      • Cataract Surgery Videos
      • Cataract Self-Assessment Test
    • Oculoplastics Center >
      • Common Eyelid Problems
      • Eyelid Skin Cancer
      • Orbital Trauma
      • Tearing
      • Eye Removal
      • Eyelid Surgery
    • Cosmetic Center >
      • Neuromodulators
      • Facial Fillers
      • Kybella
      • Cosmetic Eyelid & Eyebrow Surgery
    • Glaucoma Center >
      • What is Glaucoma?
      • Glaucoma Surgery
      • How to Insert Eye Drops
      • Glaucoma Videos
    • Cornea Center >
      • Dry Eye Syndrome
      • Blepharitis
      • Tearing
      • Conjunctivitis
      • Corneal Infections
      • Fuchs Dystrophy
    • Retina Center >
      • Flashes/Floaters
      • Retinal Detachment
      • Diabetic Retinopathy
      • Macular Degeneration
      • Retina Videos
  • Patient Information
    • Appointment Request Form
    • Contact Request Form
    • Patient Portal
    • Care Credit
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Information
    • Cleveland Eye and Laser Surgery Center
    • Appointment Request Form
    • Contact Request Form
  • Featured Products
    • In-Office Cosmetic Procedures
MACULAR DEGENERATION

Macular degeneration distorts and impairs the eye’s most acute vision used for reading and detail work.   There is a genetic link among family members with macular generation.  There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration, dry and wet.  Treatment of dry macular degeneration is aimed at reducing the risk of converting into the wet form where new blood vessels grow.  This is through the use of eye vitamins specially formulated for macular degeneration, known as AREDS or Age Related Eye Disease Study vitamins, as well as home screening with the use of an Amsler grid.  

   The AREDS formula contains daily doses of:
  • Vitamin C 500 mg
  • Vitamin E 400 IU
  • Beta-carotene 15 mg
  • Zinc oxide 80 mg
  • Copper or cupric oxide 2 mg
Do not take beta-carotene if you are a current or previous smoker, as studies have shown an increase risk in the development in lung cancer.  If you are a current or previous smoker and have macular degeneration, look for the "smoker's formula" without beta-carotene.

    Studies are currently underway involving the AREDS 2 formula containing daily doses of:
  • Vitamin C 500 mg
  • Vitamin E 400 IU
  • Zinc oxide 80 mg
  • Copper or cupric oxide 2 mg
  • Lutein 10 mg
  • Zeaxanthin 2 mg

AREDS formula vitamins are sold over-the-counter as PreserVision, Ocuvites, ICaps, and ViteEyes.

The Amsler Grid is a screening tool that every patient with dry or wet macular degeneration should use on a regular basis.  Changes in the grid may indicate the beginning or worsening of wet macular degeneration which may require treatment to prevent further vision loss. To use the Amsler grid:
 
  1. While wearing your reading glasses, hold the Amsler Grid at a distance that the grid is in focus.
  2. Cover one eye.
  3. Look at the black center dot.
  4. Without moving your eye from the black center dot, make sure all the lines are straight and intersecting at 90 degrees.
  5. Repeat while covering the other eye.
  6. Notify your eye doctor immediately if you notice any changes on any portion of the grid (e.g. blurred, broken, distorted, missing, wavy).

Wet macular degeneration used to be treated with laser resulting in permanent vision loss and scarring.  New therapeutic options including intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) have helped restore and maintain vision in patients who otherwise would have gone blind.  


EYE CENTER OF MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS
7003 PEARL ROAD  |  MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH 44130  |  440-888-2333  |  Patient Portal |  Medical Disclaimer
  • Home
  • Physicians
    • Ihor Zachary, MD, FACS
    • Michael Zgrabik, MD, FACS
  • Services
    • Ophthalmology
    • Cosmetic Procedures
    • Contact Lenses
    • On-Site Optical Shop
    • Billing/Insurance Department
    • Surgical/Diagnostic Department
  • EYE CENTERS
    • General Eye Care Center >
      • Refractive Error
      • Pediatric Ophthalmology
      • Ocular Migraine
      • How to Insert Eye Drops
      • Optical Shop
    • Cataract Center >
      • What is a Cataract?
      • Cataract Surgery
      • Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery
      • ORA System™
      • Intraocular Lenses
      • Post-operative Cataract Surgery Instructions
      • Cataract Surgery Videos
      • Cataract Self-Assessment Test
    • Oculoplastics Center >
      • Common Eyelid Problems
      • Eyelid Skin Cancer
      • Orbital Trauma
      • Tearing
      • Eye Removal
      • Eyelid Surgery
    • Cosmetic Center >
      • Neuromodulators
      • Facial Fillers
      • Kybella
      • Cosmetic Eyelid & Eyebrow Surgery
    • Glaucoma Center >
      • What is Glaucoma?
      • Glaucoma Surgery
      • How to Insert Eye Drops
      • Glaucoma Videos
    • Cornea Center >
      • Dry Eye Syndrome
      • Blepharitis
      • Tearing
      • Conjunctivitis
      • Corneal Infections
      • Fuchs Dystrophy
    • Retina Center >
      • Flashes/Floaters
      • Retinal Detachment
      • Diabetic Retinopathy
      • Macular Degeneration
      • Retina Videos
  • Patient Information
    • Appointment Request Form
    • Contact Request Form
    • Patient Portal
    • Care Credit
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Information
    • Cleveland Eye and Laser Surgery Center
    • Appointment Request Form
    • Contact Request Form
  • Featured Products
    • In-Office Cosmetic Procedures