Versant Health, a leading national managed eye health and vision plan company, wants you to know the risks and warning signs of age-related macular degeneration during AMD Awareness Month.
| BALTIMORE, /PRNewswire/ -- Versant Health, a leading national managed eye health and vision plan company, wants you to know the risks and warning signs of age-related macular degeneration during AMD Awareness Month.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. It affects more 13 million men and women over age 50, and is characterized by a dark spot in the middle of the macula, a yellow-hued spot in the middle of the retina that is responsible for central vision and allows one to see fine details. “A person suffering from AMD typically loses central vision, but maintains peripheral vision,” explains Dr. Mark Ruchman, Chief Medical Officer, Versant Health. “As such, someone with AMD may lose the ability to read and drive, a potentially devastating impairment. Fortunately, a regular eye exam can diagnose when the disease is most responsive to treatment. This may prevent the later development of catastrophic visual loss when it is much more difficult to treat.” Risk factors for AMD include advanced age, family history and race, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, obesity, high fat intake, smoking, and light or radiation damage to the retina. In its early stages, patients with AMD may have minimal visual blurring. That’s why Versant Health encourages annual eye exams, particularly for people over the age of 50, to protect your vision as well as your health. About Versant Health For more information visit versanthealth.com.
SOURCE Versant Health |
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