Macular degeneration treatment in Yuma begins with identifying the disease’s type and stage. Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, damages the center of the retina and can interfere with reading, driving, recognizing faces, and seeing fine details.
Aiello Eye Institute provides comprehensive retinal examinations, high-definition macular imaging, ongoing monitoring, and treatment for dry and wet AMD at its Yuma clinic.
The macula is a small area at the center of the retina. It provides the sharp, straight-ahead vision needed for detailed tasks.
AMD affects central vision but typically does not eliminate peripheral (side) vision. Some people experience slow changes over several years, while others develop more rapid distortion or central vision loss.
The condition occurs in two primary forms: dry AMD and wet AMD.
Dry AMD is the more common form. It develops as macular tissue thins and deposits called drusen accumulate beneath the retina.
Early dry AMD may cause no symptoms. As the disease advances, patients may notice:
Wet AMD develops when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood or fluid. It is less common than dry AMD but may cause faster central vision loss.
Possible warning signs include:
A sudden change in central vision deserves prompt attention. Call Aiello Eye Institute at 928-782-1980 during business hours. After hours, call 911 for sudden vision loss or another eye emergency.
Age is the strongest risk factor, particularly after age 55. Other factors may include:
You cannot control every risk factor. However, regular examinations can help detect retinal changes before they cause substantial symptoms.
Aiello Eye Institute’s comprehensive eye exams include evaluation of the retina and screening for age-related eye disease.
Macular degeneration can progress before you notice significant vision changes. A timely retinal evaluation can help identify changes, guide treatment decisions, and protect as much useful vision as possible.
Aiello Eye Institute provides macular degeneration evaluation and treatment through its retina service in Yuma. Call 928-782-1980 or request an appointment to schedule an AMD evaluation.
A macular degeneration evaluation may include:
Optical coherence tomography, or OCT, reveals fluid, thinning, drusen, and structural changes within the macula. Aiello Eye Institute’s retina specialists use high-definition imaging to diagnose and monitor retinal and macular disease.
Treatment depends on whether AMD is dry or wet and how far the disease has progressed.
At Aiello Eye Institute’s Yuma Office, Delu Song, MD, PhD, MTR, provides specialized retina and vitreous care for patients with macular degeneration. Dr. Song emphasizes the importance of tailoring care to the type and stage of AMD:
“Early, personalized intervention for macular degeneration, whether managing dry AMD through nutrition or treating wet AMD with advanced therapies, is critical for stabilizing and protecting central vision.”
Delu Song, MD, PhD, MTR
Retina and Vitreous Surgery
Early dry AMD may require regular dilated examinations and imaging rather than a procedure. Your doctor may recommend changes to support overall eye health, including quitting smoking, staying active, managing blood pressure and cholesterol, and eating a balanced diet.
Some patients with intermediate AMD or late AMD in one eye may benefit from a specific AREDS2 nutritional formula. These supplements are not appropriate for every stage, and ordinary multivitamins are not a substitute. Ask your eye doctor before beginning an eye-health supplement.
Wet AMD often requires anti-VEGF medication delivered through a small injection into the eye. These medicines reduce abnormal blood-vessel activity and fluid leakage.
Treatment usually requires a series of visits. Your retina specialist will use examinations and imaging to determine the medication and schedule appropriate for your eye.
Photodynamic therapy may be considered in selected cases, although it is used less commonly than anti-VEGF treatment.
Aiello Eye Institute’s macular degeneration specialists provide personalized evaluation and treatment for dry and wet AMD.
Early dry AMD may require regular dilated examinations and imaging rather than a procedure. Your doctor may recommend changes to support overall eye health, including quitting smoking, staying active, managing blood pressure and cholesterol, and eating a balanced diet.
Some patients with intermediate AMD or late AMD in one eye may benefit from a specific AREDS2 nutritional formula. These supplements are not appropriate for every stage, and ordinary multivitamins are not a substitute. Ask your eye doctor before beginning an eye-health supplement.
Wet AMD often requires anti-VEGF medication delivered through a small injection into the eye. These medicines reduce abnormal blood-vessel activity and fluid leakage.
Treatment usually requires a series of visits. Your retina specialist will use examinations and imaging to determine the medication and schedule appropriate for your eye.
Photodynamic therapy may be considered in selected cases, although it is used less commonly than anti-VEGF treatment.
Aiello Eye Institute’s macular degeneration specialists provide personalized evaluation and treatment for dry and wet AMD.
Your doctor may recommend checking each eye separately with an Amsler grid. Contact the office promptly if:
The article Macular Degeneration Symptoms: Why Lines Look Wavy, or Spots Go Missing explains how different macular conditions can create similar visual changes.
Home monitoring supports care, but it does not replace scheduled retinal examinations.
AMD affects people differently. Magnification, brighter lighting, high-contrast settings, large-print materials, and accessibility tools may help patients remain active as central vision changes.
Continue routine medical care for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and other health conditions that may affect the eyes. Keep every retinal appointment, even when vision seems stable.
For a deeper explanation of available care, review Aiello Eye Institute’s macular degeneration treatment guide.
Macular degeneration may begin quietly, but early detection gives your retina specialist more information and more opportunities to protect useful vision.
Aiello Eye Institute offers macular degeneration treatment in Yuma through its retina service, Yuma clinic. Call 928-782-1980 or request an appointment for an AMD evaluation.
Early dry AMD may cause no noticeable symptoms. Later signs can include central blur, difficulty seeing in dim light, reduced contrast, wavy lines, or a blank spot near the center of vision.
Dry AMD develops as macular tissue thins and drusen accumulate. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels leak beneath the retina and may cause more rapid central vision changes.
AMD primarily affects central vision and usually leaves peripheral vision intact. Advanced disease can still cause significant visual disability and interfere with reading, driving, and recognizing faces.
Diagnosis may include a dilated retinal examination, optical coherence tomography, retinal photography, an Amsler grid, and additional vascular imaging when wet AMD is suspected.
No. AREDS2 supplements do not cure AMD and do not help every stage. They may slow progression for certain patients with intermediate or advanced disease, so they should only be used after an eye doctor confirms that the formula is appropriate.
Wet AMD is commonly treated with anti-VEGF eye injections that reduce leakage and abnormal blood vessel activity. The medication and treatment schedule depend on examination and imaging findings.
Monitoring frequency depends on the type, stage, symptoms, and treatment plan. Some patients need routine follow-up, while patients receiving injections or showing active changes may need more frequent visits.
Aiello Eye Institute provides AMD evaluations, retinal imaging, monitoring, and treatment at its Yuma clinic. Call 928-782-1980 to request an appointment.
