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Around 11 million Americans have macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. At Milwaukee Eye Surgeons - Eye Doctor in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Kenneth Weinlander, MD, offers expert diagnosis and treatment for macular degeneration. If you're concerned about macular degeneration or are due for an eye exam, call Milwaukee Eye Surgeons or make an appointment online today.
What is macular degeneration?
The macula is the part of your retina that controls your central vision. Macular degeneration is an age-related condition that damages your macula, reducing your central vision.
There are two types of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Dry macular degeneration is the more common type, developing when your macula becomes thin, and clumps of proteins called drusen form on your retina. Dry macular degeneration builds gradually and doesn't cause noticeable symptoms right away.
Wet macular degeneration is less common, but it emerges more rapidly and is more severe. Wet macular degeneration develops when abnormal blood vessels in your retina leak blood and other fluids onto your macula, which causes scar tissue to form. While wet macular degeneration strikes more quickly than dry macular degeneration, you might not notice a problem until your vision is very blurry.
How is macular degeneration diagnosed?
At Milwaukee Eye Surgeons, Dr. Weinlander provides comprehensive eye exams that include screenings for macular degeneration and other retinal diseases.
In addition to dilating your pupils for a retinal exam, he also uses optical coherence tomography (OCT) to examine and map your retinas. Dr. Weinlander might also ask you to look at an Amsler grid and identify any blurry, dark, or blank spots in your field of vision.
How is macular degeneration treated?
Wet macular degeneration treatment
There are a variety of treatments for wet macular degeneration. Dr. Weinlander works closely with retina specialists to provide you with the best treatment for your wet macular degeneration.
Dry macular degeneration treatment
Dr. Weinlander recommends dietary adjustments and supplements to protect your eye health and slow the progression of dry macular degeneration. Some of the vitamins and minerals are known to help with dry macular degeneration include:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Lutein
- Zeaxanthin
- Zinc
- Copper
You should also incorporate more green, leafy vegetables, yellow fruits and vegetables, and fish into your diet.
In some cases, dry macular degeneration can convert to the wet form. Dr. Weinlander provides regular monitoring exams to help preserve your vision as long as possible.
Dr. Weinlander can perform intravitreal injections for exudative macular degeneration to help regain visual function. He will determine if this is the best treatment for your eyes during your comprehensive eye exam.
If you're concerned about macular degeneration or you’re due for an eye exam, call Milwaukee Eye Surgeons or make an appointment online today.
Can Surgery Treat Macular Degeneration?
While surgery cannot cure macular degeneration, certain surgical procedures can help manage advanced cases of the condition.
As mentioned above, office-based injections of anti-VEGF medications are the most common approach for wet AMD.
Some patients may require a laser procedure to seal leaking blood vessels (laser photocoagulation.) This procedure generally works best for certain cases of AMD, where blood vessels appear in clusters.
Lowering Your Risk of Macular Degeneration
Although some risk factors like age and genetics can't be controlled, there are important steps you can take to help protect your vision.
- Avoid smoking, as it greatly increases macular degeneration risk
- Wear sunglasses outdoors
- Maintain a healthy diet rich in leafy greens, colorful fruits, and omega-3 fatty acids
- Take supplements as recommended
- Tightly manage chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
Regular comprehensive eye exams are the best way to discover early changes before AMD causes significant vision loss. Early detection and ongoing care greatly increase the chances of maintaining functional vision as you age.
Why Choose Us For Macular Degeneration Treatment
At Milwaukee Eye Surgeons, you'll receive expert care delivered with compassion and personal attention. Board-certified, fellowship-trained eye surgeon Dr. Kenneth Weinlander brings decades of advanced surgical experience to every patient.
His extensive expertise allows many procedures to be performed conveniently in our office-based surgical suite, making high-level eye care more affordable and accessible. Patients trust Dr. Weinlander for his meticulous skill, cutting-edge treatment options, and his commitment to helping every patient preserve vision and quality of life.
FAQs
Blurred or distorted central vision is often the earliest warning sign. Straight lines may look wavy, or objects may seem blurry.
Macular degeneration affects central vision but typically does not cause total blindness. Most patients retain some peripheral vision even in advanced stages.
Progression varies. Dry macular degeneration can advance slowly over the years, while wet macular degeneration may worsen more quickly if untreated.
Symptoms may include difficulty seeing fine details, trouble reading, blurry central vision, and distorted or wavy lines.
Age-related macular degeneration usually develops after age 50, with the risk increasing as you get older.
Yes. Many patients experience symptoms in both eyes, though one eye may be affected earlier or more severely.
Anti-VEGF drugs reduce abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage in the retina, helping control swelling and slow vision loss in wet macular degeneration.
We utilize high-resolution imaging, OCT scans, office-based injection therapies, and laser procedures to monitor and manage macular degeneration effectively.
Expert AMD Treatment, Close to Home in Brookfield, WI
Milwaukee Eye Surgeons offers the highest standard of comprehensive AMD care in our Brookfield, WI, office. With office-based procedures at competitive, affordable prices, we make it easy to get the care you need to preserve your eyesight. Call us at 414-377-5550 to book an appointment now.
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"Dr. Weinlander is very knowledgeable, thorough and patient! He spent time helping me understand more about my eye health. I was very satisfied with the service I received."
"Great location, nice office, and personable staff. It was easy to schedule and I was able to get a contacts and glasses prescription. All COVID measures were in place and everything was wiped down and sanitized so I felt super safe. Recommended this place to my mom and I will be visiting again."
"Dr. Weinlander is incredibly knowledgeable and was able to take a more conservative approach to my eye problem where my regular optometrist wanted to do something that would have been painful and costly. I highly recommend setting an appointment at Milwaukee Eye Surgeons."
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