If someone you know has recently been diagnosed with macular degeneration, you may have some questions. To help keep their patients informed about their eye health, the caring team from Hawaii Vision Clinic in Aiea and Honolulu are here to describe what this diagnosis means, as well as what its symptoms can include. Run by Dr. William K. Wong, Jr, the clinic provides both general eye care and surgical services for patients across Central Oahu.

Macular degeneration occurs when the central portion of the retina begins to deteriorate. It is an incurable eye disease and is responsible for causing vision loss in more than 10 million people throughout the U.S.; this outnumbers both cataracts and glaucoma put together, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

During the early stage of the disease, most people don’t experience outward symptoms, but an ophthalmologist can spot its development based on the presence of yellow deposits beneath the retina. In the intermediate stage, there may be minor vision loss, and by its latest stage, vision loss becomes noticeable to the patient.

While there is currently no cure for macular degeneration, early detection is critical because certain lifestyle changes may help to slow the progression of the disease. For instance, diet alterations may help to impede its advancement, and it can also be beneficial to protect your eyes against UV light when diagnosed. Genetics play a significant role in whether a person may be predisposed to the disease, but one way to lower your risk is to quit smoking; smokers have twice the odds of developing macular degeneration.

If you’re concerned about your odds of developing macular degeneration, you can set up a screening at in the Aiea office by calling (808) 487-7938. You can also call (808) 594-9194 for the Honolulu office. Visit Hawaii Vision Clinic online for more details about their services.