I need to know of a good eye doctor in the area. I found out this weekend that, and I hope I spell this right, "macular degeneration" runs in my family. My mom and both her sisters have it as well as my grandfather when he was alive. I have been having problems with my eyes and my mom told me to get to the doctor because it is treatable. I have NO idea why no one ever told me this earlier in life, but it seems to be par for the course in my family. It's usually too late when you do find out caause no one wants to talk about anything. This is also why I cannot do a family tree because no one ever talked about it or asked. Any doc suggestions? Thanks in advance!
I would suggest an opthalmologist as opposed to an optician. Opthalmologist are more thorough for that particular area. R. Frank Lowry or Lowry Opthalmology is a great choice. http://www.lowryeye.com/
Eye Care Associates are fantastic. Though I am a little biased because my BIL is a doctor at one of their locations, but all of their doctors are pretty good and they are located all over, just not in Clayton unfortunately. I would suggest you see a good optometrist first then they will refer you if you need to see an opthomologist.
You definitely need an opthamologist. This is not treatable with glasses since it is a progressive disease. My grandmother had it, finally becoming almost completely blind. It starts with spots in the front of you that you cannot see. Your peripheral vision remains throughout most of the disease, but the area in front of you that is blind gets larger.
I do have spots, but I SEE them. I was told once a long time ago that they were called "floaters". Is that the same thing? I thank you all for your suggestions!!!!
I don't know about the floating spots. I don't remember if that's how it started with my grandmother or not. I know she got a special machine from the state for reading the newspaper and books. Later, they sent her a special phone and device for books on tape since she couldn't read anymore. She lived in Greenville, so I don't know any ophthalmologists around here. However, I do know its not something to mess around with! This is one of those "sooner" rather than later issues to take care of.
In case it is a peeling retina, get to the doctor know and they can keep ot from getting worse. My biological father had this and it was aggravated after he got hit in the head with a ladder, he waited and now wheres an eye patch. He is a hit on Halloween though!
Floaters are something different, most people seem to have them to some degree. You need to have regular checkups by an ophthalmologist if macular degeneration runs in your family.
In this case, for an eye disease, you definitely need to see an opthamologist. Which( if I remember correctly from working for an optomotrist) that an opthamologist is an MD specializing in eyes. DON'T WAIT!
What ever you do, DO NOT go to Lal Madan on Brightleaf Blvd in Smithfield. They DO NOT care about their patients!! His wife is TERRIBLE!!! He is "said" to be a specialist out of Chapel Hill, but if I were you I would not go there. I had to turn them into the BBB!
If you're willing to come downtown or go to Cary, Dr. Weitz with Eye Care Center is excellent. He treats my mom for Macular Degeneration. Good luck.
Go to an opthalmologist. I can only speak for pediatric opthalmologist so only have those to recommend. We go to UNC othalmology department and go to one of Duke's satellite offices in Cary at regency park complex. Both are good. The Duke satellite office also sees adults. It is a progressive disease. However, since i have a son most likely going blind, I have found there are SO MANY new things out theer toeither help treat or help live with the blindness of varying degrees. But from what I hear, MD is treatable though I only have experience w/ RP(retinitis pigmentosa) and ONH(optic nerve hypoplasia). Good luck and if you don't like the first opthalmologist, definitely go to another. YOur eyes are too important to mess with. We have UNC saying our son is going blind and Duke saying he's not. ALWAYS get another opinion!!! Stephanie--mom to 7
I just found this thread, and this may be a dumb question, but here it goes: Only "older" people get macular degeneration, right? The reason I ask, is because last week I had my eyes dilated for the first time, and the dr found the yellow spots, similar to what is found in the early stages of macular degeneration. He said if I were about 40 years older he would think that's what it was, but I'm only 32! He said it's probably nothing, maybe just calcium deposits, but tomorrow I'm going to a retina specialist (that's what they're called, not an opthamologist) to get it checked out. I was just curious if this has ever happened to anyone else here close to my age? I've tried looking it up online, but I haven't found anything about my age, just general information about the disease itself.
I don't know about that particular disease, but a lot of times, there are folks who get eye diseases that aren't the "right" age. My SIL had a horrible time with her first pair of glasses last year @45, she still couldn't see and the doctor was incredibly rude to her. Turns out she had bad cataracts! At 45! She's had both eyes operated on now and sees great. Get thee to the doctor! 8)
Yep, I'm going tomorrow! I've actually been wearing glasses for about 4 years now, but have never had my eyes dilated. I've been chicken! Not a big deal, now I know, but wish I had earlier now...I can see fine with my glasses on. I have found online that there are different types of md (to shorten it) and it can cause night blindness. I've never even discussed this with my eye dr, but might bring it up tomorrow. I can't drive at night, my husband thinks I'm making it up, but I swear, I can't! The lines on the road disappear, and it's really scary, especially if it's a new road, or one I don't travel much. And if there's another car coming, it totally blinds me!
If you are willing to drive to Cary go see Dr Stikeleather at Cary Vision Center. He has a cool new camera where he can take pictures of your eye and the area behind it without dilating them. It is great in helping with issues like this.
They did that last week, after dilating them and finding the yellow dots...not sure what they're doing tomorrow. But I've got a copy of the photos, the dr was nice enough to give me a copy to take with me.
This runs in my family too. My paternal grandfather had it so my aunts and father are on a special vitamin to help prevent from getting it. Might want to ask about that. Good luck!
