Macular Dystrophy

[Cliona]

I am 30 and was diagnosed with macular dystrophy yesterday by an eye doctor.  He did not give me a lot of information but requested that i return in a years time and he will perform more tests and more than likely will then be seen by him every 5 years.  He told me not to worry at the moment but I am finding it hard to get non-scary info on the web.  Thanks

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You need to clarify that with the "eye doctor" that made the diagnosis. If you saw an optometrist, a non-physician, limited scope practioner you need to see a real physician (ophthalmologist or Eye MD).

If you did see an Eye MD I would suggest a second opinion from a retinal specialist. This is an ophthalmologist with one or two extra years training for treating the retina and macula. It is very unusual for someone your age to have Mac degen.  Far and away the most common cause of mac degen is age. Since you are young you need special tests to determine what type of mac degen you have (bear in mind these tests could show you do NOT have mac degen).

You can find a retina specialist near you at www.aao.org

JCH III MD

[Cliona]

I believe it was of the macula but I couldn't say for certain

[Cliona]

He didnt specify.  I hope to get more info from my optician when the "eye doc" sends a letter stating the specifics. The info he did give me was just that I had macular dystrophy, the pattern in both eyes was the same so he thinks it was something I was born with and that it was something that I shouldn't worry about at the moment.  I have two children and as I realise that it is probably genetically linked in my case I am also concerned about them, Thanks

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

There is a macular dystrophy of the cornea and macular degeneration of the macula. Which part of the eye did the eye doctor say had the disease?

JCH III MD