I don't need glasses all the time, but as I'm getting older I do find it harder read fine print. I like to carry reading glasses so that I don't get stuck when I'm out and about, but I don't want to always carry a bulky glasses case. I like to try and find reading glasses that are compact and can easily be carried in the pocket and are pretty hardy so they don't get too scratched up. This blog is all about affordable options for pocket reading glasses to keep you able to read all those tiny fonts and prints.
If you are an older adult, there are a variety of eye conditions you need to be concerned about. One of them is called age-related macular degeneration. This condition can cause vision problems as a result of the macula breaking down and deteriorating. Here are some things to know about age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
There Are a Variety of Symptoms
The first thing you should know about this type of macular condition is how to spot the early warning signs. While there is not currently a cure for this eye condition, there are treatments that can help slow its progression and save your eyesight. It is important to know some of the signs so you can see your optometrist right away. The most common symptom of this type of eye condition is having a loss of vision. It happens very slowly, so you might not notice it at first. The condition usually doesn't cause pain or discomfort, but might cause a fuzziness or blurriness in your vision. You may also see spots or shadowed areas in your vision. If you have these symptoms, the doctor will likely use an Amsler grid to determine just how much vision loss you are having, along with a macular degeneration test.
You Might Have Different Types
Another important thing to know about this eye condition is that you might have macular degeneration in either wet or dry form. The dry version is the most common way to have AMD, which is the result of the macula tissues starting to thin. It is from the natural aging process. During the beginning of dry macular degeneration, there are fatty proteins that start forming under the retina, which affect the macula and then cause the vision loss. Vision loss is more gradual with dry AMD than wet.
When you have wet AMD, it is from abnormal blood vessels forming under the retina. This is a rarer version, but also one that causes more significant damage to your retina and faster vision loss. If you have suddenly gotten blurry or shadowed vision that is causing considerable vision loss, it might be from this type of AMD.
Other Risks Are Associated With AMD
Not only is age-related macular degeneration caused by the aging process, but you might have other factors that increase your risk for developing it. For example, if you are an obese individual that doesn't get a lot of exercise, you are at a greater risk for this eye condition. If someone in your family, particularly a parent, had the condition, you are at a higher risk. Other risk factors include having high blood pressure and smoking cigarettes.
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