Macular Degeneration: Finding a Provider
Written By: BrightFocus Editorial Staff
Written By: BrightFocus Editorial Staff
To maintain your eye health and vision, it’s important to get regular dilated eye exams from a qualified eye care provider. We have information and links to help you find a doctor and get appropriate eye care.
Your primary care physician or any other doctor who made your diagnosis may have recommendations. Ideally, you want a doctor or medical practice experienced in treating macular degeneration.
The links above are for third-party applications that allow you to search for a doctor. They not affiliated with, or endorsed by, BrightFocus Foundation or our website. BrightFocus Foundation does not endorse or recommend any individual providers listed there, nor do we verify qualifications, licenses, practice emphases, or suitability of the providers. Please see our disclaimer related to third-party sites for more information.
Many health professionals are trained to take care of your eyes. The differences among opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists reflect different levels of training. Read more about each type so you can decide which is right for you:
An optician:
An optometrist:
An ophthalmologist:
All these types of providers dedicate their careers to taking care of our vision. Different eye care professionals have different skills, training, and experience. Therefore, some may be better equipped and prepared to properly detect and manage macular degeneration than others.
Learn more about finding the right eye doctor for your needs.
Your eyesight is central to your quality of life and ability to function at work and home. It is very important to have regular eye examinations that include eye dilation, particularly as you age or if you have any of the risk factors associated with AMD. Learn more about prevention and risk factors for AMD.
You and your eye doctor should discuss how often to have your comprehensive, dilated eye exam, based on your medical history and risk factors. In general, the American Optometric Association recommends a comprehensive eye exam:
Ask your primary care physician for recommendations for an eye doctor with experience in treating AMD. Not all communities have eye care providers, so you may need to travel to get appropriate care.
Ask questions before you make an appointment with an eye care professional, such as the top five questions to ask your eye doctor.
If only one eye is affected by AMD, you may not have noticeable symptoms. A doctor can still make an accurate diagnosis.
Early diagnosis and treatment may help control progression of the disease, and stabilize vision or stop vision loss. See “Macular Degeneration: Treatments and Drugs.”
BrightFocus Foundation is a premier global nonprofit funder of research to defeat Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Through its flagship research programs — Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Macular Degeneration Research, and National Glaucoma Research— the Foundation has awarded nearly $300 million in groundbreaking research funding over the past 51 years and shares the latest research findings, expert information, and resources to empower the millions impacted by these devastating diseases. Learn more at brightfocus.org.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is a public service of BrightFocus Foundation and is not intended to constitute medical advice. Please consult your physician for personalized medical, dietary, and/or exercise advice. Any medications or supplements should only be taken under medical supervision. BrightFocus Foundation does not endorse any medical products or therapies.