Loss of vision with aging is one of the most feared afflictions. For numerous reasons, age-related macular degeneration is becoming a major problem in health care. In most cases, total loss of vision is very unlikely, especially if the signs of macular degeneration are discovered early.

The early signs of ARMD are often discovered on a routine eye examination. These early signs are usually changes in the appearance of the retina. Unfortunately, with standard viweing techniques, the true picture is often not revealed. Imaging from OPTOVue gives your optometrist and MRI type image of the retina to uncover the true source of the problem so that proper treatment may be prescribed.

A view that your optometrist has of your retina can be compared to looking at a painting on the wall. It is a picture in 2 dimensions. What OPTOVue's technology is able to do is to look at the painting in three dimensions. As a result, the optometrist is able to view your eye in 3-D and ARMD happens in three dimension. This gives the advantage of telling your optometrist why you have a problem and how to fix it.

The healthy retina	A patient with early ARMD

The OPTOVue scan of the healthy retina showing retinal structure	The OPTOVue scan of early ARMD showing changes in the retina

At this particular phase of ARMD, your optometrist will probably choose to have you monitor your vision and will see you on a regular basis. Your optometrist will advise you of the family tendencies of this disorder. Additionally, you will receive advice on decreasing the liklihood of progression by changing your lifestyle as there are well-defined risk factors associated with ARMD. If you smoke, you will be advised to stop. You must eat healthy and will be advised to use nutritional supplements like lutein, zeaxanthin, other antioxidants, and Omega 3 free fatty acids. Reugular exercise is also a method of minimizing your risk.

As ARMS progresses, vision may slowly decrease or rapidly decrease. The rapidly decreasing vision is due to either a hemorrhage or leakage altering the retinal structure. It is important for your optometrist to detect this ina timely fashion. At this stage of ARMD your optometrist has a number of options to assist in your care. OPTOVue imaging helps your optometrist determine your options.

A patient with a RPE detachment	A patient with bleeding under the retina
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The OPTOVue scan showing a blister under the retina	The OPTOVue scan showing blood lifting up the retinal structure

OPTOVue imaging will also help your optometrist follow any changes in your retinal situation and will help evaluate the effect of various treatment techniques.

At all stages of ARMD it is important to maintain your health at its best. Equally important is the realization that ARMD does not have to mean total blindness. Most patients, with the help of their optometrist, will maintain usable vision throughout their lives.

Optovue's OPTOVue is at the cutting edge of technology and has features that help your optometrist to discover even subtle losses in your optic nerve and retina and to follow these losses over time. This information is critical to treatment.