Encik Ali (M/70) came for routine eye examination as he is looking to enhance his near vision. He currently uses a magnifier to help him to see his phone & newspaper.
Upon examination, he can see the single letter on the biggest line of testing chart and when asked to guess one line smaller with 3 alphabets, he can guess both alphabets at the side but missed centre alphabet, indicating that he sees central black patch (central scotoma), and optometrist prompted if he is diagnosed with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) by his eye doctor and he said yes.
For patient with AMD, the ultimate goal Is to maximise his vision to do his daily activities by spectacle lenses and/or low vision aids.
Encik Ali would want to continue riding his bike, but for safety reason, he should not ride a bike. If he intends to take public transport, he can try telescope/‘teropong’ to help his far vision with identification of bus number or train number. But having central black patch, he will need to use & see through his clear area for the number identification.
For his near vision, he needs power of +8.00 to help him see 2-3 biggest lines on reading chart held at 12cm away from his eyes. When top up with his current magnifier, he can see another 2 more lines smaller. He can now do a combo spectacles & magnifier to help him see better.
The font on his phone is set to the largest font and good lighting will make him read easier.
Why do I get AMD? The risk factors are:
- smoking
- aging
- systemic conditions i.e. high blood pressure, high cholesterol
- have a family history of AMD
In its early stages, the following signs of macular degeneration can go unnoticed.
- Gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly
- Shape of objects appears distorted
- Straight lines look wavy or crooked
- Loss of clear colour vision
- A dark or empty area in centre of vision
Have you experienced any of these signs? You may try to close one eye at a time to check.
So, lets take care of our eyes by:
- Stop smoking
- Systemic conditions are well-controlled & take medications as prescribed
- Stay active
- And a positive sunshine mindset
In event of any doubt, please reach out to us & chat with us.
Early detection is key to preserving your vision.
#AMD #AgeRelatedMacularDegeneration