Early Symptoms of Macular Dystrophy

Not to be confused with macular degeneration, macular dystrophy is a serious and rare condition that can cause vision loss. If an eye doctor has diagnosed you with this condition, below is more information about it and why you need regular exams from our optometrist in Wilmette at New Vision Optical Boutique.

Macular Dystrophy and Its Symptoms

Macular dystrophy has two main forms. The first, child-onset, may also go by Best disease. The second form does not develop until adulthood. Both forms cause vision loss, though the adult-onset version of this condition causes a slower loss of vision.

What sets macular dystrophy's vision loss apart from other eye problems is its location. Only the central vision degrades over time. Night vision and peripheral vision remain unaffected. At the earliest stages, you may only have some minor blurring in the middle of your field of view. Over time, the blurriness worsens.

Currently, there is not a standard treatment to reduce vision loss from macular dystrophy.

Who Gets Macular Dystrophy?

Macular dystrophy can happen in children and adults. Usually, children inherit a gene from their parents and get the condition. Adults may have a genetic root to developing the condition, too. Often, adult-onset macular dystrophy does not appear until middle age. Whether a child or adult, regular eye exams can spot this rare disease before it causes serious vision problems.

Schedule Your Eye Exams

Regular exams from an eye doctor can help spot the development of this condition in its early stages. Though there is no treatment, you can get support and monitoring of your condition plus corrective lenses from our optometrist in Wilmette. Contact us New Vision Optical Boutique at 847-230-4796 to book an appointment.