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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Lauren Weber
Franco Public Relations Group
 O: (313) 567-5048
weber@franco.com

AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION IS LEADING CAUSE OF LOW VISION AND BLINDNESS IN MICHIGAN

Michigan optometrists provide access to eye care to help reduce the risk of vision loss for Michigan residents

LANSING, Mich. – (February 19, 2009) – Optometrists from the Michigan Optometric Association (MOA) want to call attention to age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) – a disease that occurs when the light-sensing cells of the macula (the central portion of the retina) deteriorate and cause low vision or blindness.
ARMD is the number one cause of low vision and legal blindness in people older than 60 in Michigan. This disease rarely causes complete blindness but advanced stages can leave people with only peripheral vision and dim images or missing areas in the center of their vision.
Symptoms of ARMD may not be apparent until late in the disease process. Therefore, optometrists with the MOA recommend that aging Americans should receive regular preventative eye exams. Annual eye exams can minimize the risk for vision loss by ensuring appropriate and timely treatment.

Patients in the following groups should be screened for ARMD:

  • People over 60 years of age, especially women
  • People with hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiovascular disease
  • Cigarette smokers
  • People with a presence of ARMD in their family history
  • People with a history of long periods of unprotected UV light exposure


The macula is the central part of the retina, the light sensing tissue lining the inside of the eye. The macula can deteriorate in two ways – wet or dry.

Dry macular degeneration is an early stage of the disease and may result from the aging and thinning of macular tissues, depositing of pigment in the macula or a combination of the two processes. This form accounts for 85 to 90 percent of all cases. This form rarely leads to blindness, but may distort or dim your vision making driving and reading more difficult. These problems can usually be helped with low vision aids.

Wet macular degeneration is a less common form, affecting approximately 10 percent of all cases. With wet macular degeneration, new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid. This leakage causes permanent damage to light-sensitive retinal cells, which die off and create blind spots in central vision. This form leads to more serious vision loss, but is also often able to be helped with low vision aids.

“We continue to research the specific factors that cause age-related macular degeneration that often times results in low vision,” said Dr. Laura Kenyon, O.D., member of the MOA. “Since more people are living longer, the number of cases in Michigan will increase significantly over the next decade. The best way to detect vision issues is though a comprehensive eye exam.”
There is as yet no outright cure for macular degeneration, but some treatments may delay its progression or even improve vision. Leading a healthy lifestyle that avoids fatty foods and includes green leafy vegetables high in antioxidants or even antioxidant supplements has shown some benefit in those with macular degeneration. Ask your MOA optometrist for more information.

For those who suffer from low vision due to ARMD, treatment options include:

  • Special modifications to eyeglasses. These may include extra strong bifocal powers, contrast enhancing tints, and other optical options.
  • Magnifying devices. There are numerous assistive devices available that use principals of magnification to enhance vision for both reading and distant objects. Examples of this may include hand-held magnifiers, spectacle-mounted telescopes, or electronic magnifying devices.
  • Vision rehabilitation therapy. Therapy ensures that prescribed adaptive equipment is integrated effectively for daily activities. Low vision practitioners often work with allied professionals in the field of vision rehabilitation who contribute to therapeutic treatment plans. Additionally, there are also a variety of low vision support groups located in Michigan.
  • Additional resources include: access to large print and audio literature, talking watches and other assistive products. As Patients may be referred to state and private resources such as the Michigan Commission for the Blind, Michigan Rehabilitation Service, Michigan Library for the Blind and other agencies and services when appropriate.

If you or someone you know is suffering from macular degeneration and vision loss, be sure to schedule regular eye examinations. Additionally, a special low vision evaluation can help to determine what type of magnifying devices or services could help someone suffering from ARMD. Ask your optometrist about scheduling an examination or a low vision evaluation.
To locate a Michigan Optometric Association doctor in your area, visit www.themoa.org.
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[Editor’s note: To schedule an interview with Dr. Laura Kenyon, OD, please contact Lauren Weber at (313) 567-5048.]

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