A patient who notices a blurring of central vision, a distortion of straight lines, or a diminishing of color perception should see the ophthalmologist immediately, even if it is not yet time for his yearly exam. There is no cure for macular degeneration, and no treatment for the dry type. However, many cases of the wet type, which produces the more serious loss of vision, can be treated with laser surgery if it is detected early, before central vision is destroyed which is a good reason to go for a yearly eye exam. Those who are most susceptible to macular degeneration should protect their eyes from bright sunlight, avoid exposing their eyes to cigarette smoke, and take steps to avoid or control hypertension, as all of these have been shown to hasten the onset and progress of the disease. Since there is no way to know how susceptible one is to this condition, of course, these recommendations apply to everyone, whether they have already developed the condition or not.
Laser surgery can prevent blindness in some cases.
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