I'm getting old - possibly have age related macular degenration

WezV

So just been to the opticians for my biannual check up.

It all got a bit worrying as I noticed a "Shadow" on one of the retina pics and I noticed the behaviour change in the optician when they saw it too ... and the extra checks they have never done before.   I got really worried at the point she turned off her monitor before turning around to talk to me

But apparently its most likely nothing serious,  I have some wear on my retina that needs checking out properly.   The optician told me its not unusual.... in people over 65!

So at 34 I most likely have Age Related Macular Degeneration.   If this is the final diagnosis I am going to campaign to get the name shortened a bit

She recommended I start to get used to wearing sunglasses, I asked if I short get used to walking a dog too

randomhandclaps

Did you mention to her that you work in a brewery? It may have helped her make a quicker alternative diagnosis! 

 Best of luck with it though. Hopefully it's nothing serious.

WezV

I'm not too worried, although I wish she had got to the point a bit quicker

We did talk about smoking as apparently heavy smoking can be a cause.  I did smoke till a few months ago but  never more than 4 a day so hardly heavy.

She didn't mention drink

She did mention solar damage, possibly from a recent eclipse... I swear i never looked at it

Paul_C

Age Related Macular (Eye) Degeneration

you're ARMED.

bingefeller

Hopefully it's nothing serious and just a physiological anomaly on your eye.  

EricTheWeary

That's what my mother has, very common in the over 80's!
Lots of information and support via the macular society.
As I understand it early diagnosis should mean it's treatable; elderly people often just accept they are losing sight with age and don't get frequent checks so it's too late to treat.
Hope its all okay

goldtop

Hope catching it early helps you keep it in check, Wez.

Any symptoms before the diagnosis?

WezV

I guess the right eye has been a bit less focused of late.    Its not a real diagnosis yet, its a referral to a consultant to get it checked properly, and if this is the diagnosis it will probably just mean more regular eye tests to monitor for any changes

I am really not that worried, vision is generally still very good.. although i should probably avoid using my right eye as a diagnosis tool for guitar neck straightness... it can't be trusted.

I just found it funny that she added the "age related" bit to the possible diagnosis...  if I do have any macular degeneration I am fairly sure its not due to my age.   

Will wait to see what the consultant says

Emp_Fab

Do you play blues ?

holnrew

Things aren't as bad as I imagined from the thread title. I hope everything goes well.

Fuzzdog

They can do all sorts of things with macular degeneration now if they catch it early enough, so the outlook should be hopeful!

My mum has suffered from early onset 'age related' macular degeneration since she was in her early 40's - they couldn't really do anything about it back when she was diagnosed, so she has been registered blind for the past ten years or so with only a tiny bit of blurry eyesight left around the very edges, and it's past the point that modern techniques can do anything for her now.

RobDavies

My Mum (72) has just lost the sight in one of her eyes, due to ARMD.   

She's having a series of injections directly into the eye to see if it can be reversed, but it's unlikely.   If it's caught in time, there's no reason why the injections shouldn't prevent sight loss.

The injections sound horrific but she assures me that they're really not that bad at all - the medical staff do everything possible to make you comfortable and she genuinely can't feel a thing.

Such a shame for a woman who loved her TV, reading and crafting.

Anyway, @WezV , I'm sure they've caught it early enough for it not to be a major problem for you.  Good luck.

boogieman

Fingers crossed that it works out ok Wez.

hotpot

RobDavies said:

My Mum (72) has just lost the sight in one of her eyes, due to ARMD.   

She's having a series of injections directly into the eye to see if it can be reversed, but it's unlikely.   If it's caught in time, there's no reason why the injections shouldn't prevent sight loss.

The injections sound horrific but she assures me that they're really not that bad at all - the medical staff do everything possible to make you comfortable and she genuinely can't feel a thing.

Such a shame for a woman who loved her TV, reading and crafting.

Anyway, @WezV , I'm sure they've caught it early enough for it not to be a major problem for you.  Good luck

My old dad is going through this ARMD treatment at the moment, the optician picked it up on his eye test. I take him for his monthly hospital appointments. He's 88 & I cringe when they inject directly into his eyeball.

frankus

I have two friends with it, both enough to be diagnosed partially sighted. They're both very able-bodied confident people and most people never know that one has 40% vision and the other around 10%.

All the best fella

Phil_aka_Pip

Here's wishing you a good outcome from this @WezV. Even if it is potentially nasty they could have caught it quick and saved you hassle. Best wishes

jonnyburgo

Best of Luck Wez, if worse comes to worse you could get your hair braided and learn the piano?

WezV

So apparently there are two types.

 

Dry ARMD is just general wear or pigment changes, almost like a scaring or  a mole  on the retina, no treatment, but it shouldn't change dramatically either.  Its its solar damage it should be this one and getting used to sunglasses should help prevent further damage. 

 

Wet ARMD is to to with blood vessels in the eye.  It can happen a lot quicker and cause more loss of sight but is quite treatable if caught early.   It is usually treated with a course of  eye injections which sound horrific but I am sure its not really a small drill bit going right through the middle

 

So either way, I will probably always have this  fuzzy blur in my right eye and a feeling that my glases are not quite clean enough,  but there is no reason to worry about it getting worse just yet 

axisus

DAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! I wish you'd all stop mentioning the eyeball jab stuff, really makes me queasy every time I read it!

I hope you get it sorted as best as possible, eyesight is so precious. My eyes seem a bit 'weird' these days, I should really go for a check.

Nitefly

@WezV - I notice you already wear glasses - might be worth going for reactions lenses?  After I had my cataracts done early last year, they advised me to always have reactions lenses.

Anyway, hope all goes well.

lloyd

Good luck with that mate.

axisus said:

DAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! I wish you'd all stop mentioning the eyeball jab stuff, really makes me queasy every time I read it!

I hope you get it sorted as best as possible, eyesight is so precious. My eyes seem a bit 'weird' these days, I should really go for a check.

Not the worst kind of ball to get injected.....