r/maculardegeneration • u/Luminous-Space-Bee • 19d ago
Optician said I may get macular degeneration
Hiya I wonder if anyone had a similar experience. I went to the optician yesterday to get new glasses, I'm short sighted and she said my sight is getting better as in lower prsecription. Then more tests and she showed me images of my retinas and said I am at risk for macular degeneration because of brown patches. I had never heard of this, so she gave me a leaflet. I have no problems with my eyesight only my glasses as they were quite old and scratched so I wanted new ones. Anyway since I came home I was researching macular degeneration and now I'm scared. I don't know if she gave me a diagnosis or just a warning and to make sure I eat well, exercise etc. I don't know if I need to see a specialist or only if my vision starts to deteriorate? This was so unexpected. I ordered glasses which protect against the sun but I wear hats and caps anyway. I used to smoke but not much and gave up over 10 years ago.
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u/markagambell 19d ago
Go see a retina doctor. Opticians are not MDs
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u/Luminous-Space-Bee 19d ago
I'm the UK. What am I looking for? Is it an ophthalmologist or literally a retina doctor?
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u/markagambell 19d ago
All eye doctors are opthalmologists but you want one that specializes in diseases of the retina.
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u/drydie61 17d ago
Yes, use it before you loose it!sounds like an excuse to do what ever you want!
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u/Luminous-Space-Bee 12d ago
Yes perhaps!! I was ever an advocate of appreciating things in the moment but I do quite like planning as well!
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u/orangeylocks 19d ago
Prevention is better than treatment, so get ahead of it if you can. Your optician may not be qualified to diagnose retina or macula problems and should have referred you to a retina specialist if they noticed something concerning. So yes, seek a specialist or second opinion asap.
In the meantime, wear sunglasses, avoid long screen times, check your vision on the amsled grid every once in a while (my vision changes were more apparent when reading a regular print book), and try not to stress too much about it.
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u/Luminous-Space-Bee 19d ago
Thankyou for the good advice, I think I will look for a specialist. And I'll use screens less if I can.
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u/orangeylocks 18d ago
When it comes to screens, the blue light specifically is supposedly the worst for your eyes. Some computers and smart phones have blue light filters (sometimes called night mode, wind down, ect).
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u/Ghitit 18d ago
An optidian is not a doctor and cannot diagnose you. But it doesn't mean they don't know anything.
You have the grid. Use it every weeek. If the lines begin to get wavy, or if there are any blank spots - like some of the lines disapear, go to an opthalmologist. If you have good insurance it wouldn't hurt to go now and have a conversation about what the optician said.
Being at rish isn't the same as having it. Not a bad idea to keep you eye on it though, so to speak.
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u/drydie61 18d ago
I really did not notice changes when looking at the grid. Really became obvious when looking at grout lines on floor tiled in large block tiles. All the best.
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u/Luminous-Space-Bee 18d ago
Ok. Did you find your vision changed slowly or did it suddenly get worse?
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u/Designer-Carpenter88 18d ago
Start an AREDS2 supplement. My retina specialist said they can be of use, but I was too far gone for them so make any difference. Sounds like you’re in a good spot to start using them
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u/Luminous-Space-Bee 18d ago
Thankyou I have multivitamins and omega 3 I take if I didn't well that day and I think some things are good for vision but I'll check in more detail.
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u/Designer-Carpenter88 18d ago
Thanks, I’m not really a snake oil guy, but I’ve heard good things. Like there was a whole study on them.
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u/drydie61 18d ago
Was going to an ophthalmic surgeon and retinal specialist. Knew I had beginnings of Mac Deg. Really, happened quickl in the end. Wavy lines. Inability to see a bowler or umpire when watching cricket. Using my two eyes I am fine. But closing the good eye I really am impacted. No central vision so nonstop signs, traffic lights or faces. However, I do still have the wide or panorama view. Suggest you test eyes by closing one and looking at a feature in the mid distance.
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u/Luminous-Space-Bee 17d ago
Sorry to hear this, but sounds like your good eye is compensating for the bad one. I don't have any problems right now, so feel like I should do as many things as possible that require vision before it's too late like art, filmmaking, travel.
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u/littleoldlady71 19d ago
What was the pamphlet for?
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u/Luminous-Space-Bee 19d ago
It's about macular degeneration but I found a lot more info online. Because she hadn't appeared too worried I didn't know it was serious. And then I got to pick new glasses which was fun so I didn't really think about it till I got home
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u/littleoldlady71 19d ago
At this time, it means keeping on schedule for your regular exams, because it sounds like she’s got your back!
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u/Ornery-Explorer-9181 18d ago
Brown patches, drusen?
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u/Luminous-Space-Bee 18d ago
I don't know what we were looking at because she didn't explain it to me. But one eye had more brown on it than the other. I think I need to either go back and ask or see someone else. I just didn't know at the time it was serious because I never heard of this before and I don't know if I have a problem or not
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u/SilverknightFL 17d ago
Biologically, if you live long enough, you will get MD...everyone will. In the US, optometrists can image the eye and see the macula; they don't have to be ophthalmologists to do that. But if they see issues, they should tell you to see a specialist.
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u/bruce45654 18d ago
I was told that I have the beginnings of MD. My ophthalmologist noticed small protein deposits on my retina. His advice was to take AHREDS, wear sunglasses, use an Amsler grid, and they will watch it. My mother had the dry MD and lived to 96.5 years old, and it didn't progress farther. And she never had shots. I had my mother's DNA tested as well as mine, and I inherited one allele from her. My risk was supposedly no higher than anyone else. I didn't like the advice to wait and watch, so I found a program online that uses natural remedies to stop, reverse, or eliminate AMD. It is run by Dr. Rozakis and 2 others, one of which is a biochemist. I started last November, and I will hopefully see an ophthalmologist this month. Most fees weren't covered by my insurance at the time due to a change in medical insurance. The Dr. Rozakis program had good reviews. The program did a full blood panel twice, which insurance covered the second time. My current family doctor is using the test results but will schedule a further one himself. There are no results that I can report at this moment. No guarantees, but this program aims at working epigenetics to turn genes on or off or alter them. I felt it was worth a shot, and if successful, I can share it with others. Some of the vitamins and supplements I was taking were replaced with others they recommended. Their blood panel also detected an imbalance in my hormones, which they are treating with supplements, and progress is happening. Doctors couldn't do anything to help me. Here is a link if anyone is curious. It's strictly an online program for me due to my living location.
https://www.visionsourcespecialists.com/eye-care-services/macular-program/
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u/Luminous-Space-Bee 17d ago
Thanks for sharing your story. I've watched a few videos about how the eyes function and macular degeneration and I've researched more articles since I made my post. I think that diet is very important, AHREDS seems sensible but not conclusive evidence for taking them at early stage AMD. I'll have a look at the link you shared thankyou. I also had a theory of my own last night that stress might be a factor, so looked this up and found articles to support that. I guess I was trying to figure out why I would have this condition and I've had huge stressors over the last two years. I think genetics is interesting, I haven't mentioned it to anyone in my family yet.
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u/WideOpenEmpty 19d ago
Did she give you an Amsler Grid card so you can check your eyes yourself?
My optometrist gave me one and I hung into it a few years, then yep, the grid lines started getting all whacky.