Symptoms of Dry Macular Degeneration

By Marina Pink | October 18, 2024 | Comments Off on Symptoms of Dry Macular Degeneration

24-Hour Home Care in Silver Lake CAIt’s a mouthful to say, but dry macular degeneration is a condition of the eyes that can affect the elderly and reduce their sight to the point that they can no longer drive or read. It doesn’t cause complete blindness but may lead to your loved one needing someone with him around the clock to help with care.

Dry Macular Degeneration Causes

While many times, dry macular degeneration occurs without any known causes, it generally occurs as the eye ages. Over the years, the macula (the part of the retina that is responsible for the ability to see clearly in the direct line of sight) becomes thinner and the cells responsible for central vision are lost. Peripheral vision is usually retained while central vision is slowly reduced.

Other factors that may increase the risk of developing dry macular degeneration include:

  • Smoking
  • Race (it’s more prevalent among Caucasian people)
  • Obesity
  • High Blood Pressure or Heart Disease
  • Symptoms of Dry Macular Degeneration

The symptoms of eye macular degeneration often come on slowly so your loved one may not immediately notice a change in their vision. Or they may think they’ve just let their eyeglass prescription get too old and it’s not working as well anymore. It can affect one eye or both, and if it only affects one eye, it can be more difficult to detect as the stronger eye works to compensate for the affected eye’s inability to work properly.

Common Dry Macular Degeneration Symptoms Include:

  • Difficulty in recognizing faces.
  • Difficulty in reading because words are blurry and tough to focus on.
  • Difficulty in seeing details in low light, such as reading or sewing.
  • Difficulty in adapting to low-light areas. It’ll take your loved one longer for her eyes to adjust when entering a dark room.
  • Visual distortions, such as straight lines look suddenly crooked.
  • A newly developed blind spot or blurry area in the field of vision.

Adjustments Your Loved One with Dry Macular Degeneration Can Make At Home

There isn’t a way to reverse the damage done to the sight due to dry macular degeneration but your loved one can make some adjustments in her home to prevent further damage as well as manage the current symptoms of the disease. If the damage is severe, your loved one might consider having a 24-hour home care team stay at the home with her so she can continue living in her home. A 24-hour home team can ensure your loved one stays safe at all hours of the day so that she always has some help when needed. From preparing meals to reading the daily news to your loved one to providing transportation, a 24-hour home team will keep your loved one connected to the world around her.

Five Steps to Improve Vision Capabilities Around the Home

  1. Review her eyeglass prescription to make sure it’s up to date. Your loved one may want to see a low-vision specialist.
  2. Purchase magnifying devices to help with close-up work such as threading a needle.
  3. Adjust screens to help sight. Video screens should be bright and have larger print. If more help is needed, consider having speech output programs added to read to your loved one.
  4. Install low-vision devices around the home such as clocks and appliances with large numbers.
  5. Increase lighting in dark areas making it safer for your loved one to walk without fear of tripping.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring 24-Hour Home Care in Silver Lake, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call us today at (888) 989-7388
Marina Pink
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