Your symptoms will correspond with where you are in the geographic atrophy disease process.
Late indications are much more pronounced than early ones.
However, the lesion can be located more to the periphery.
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You may notice a dark spot there instead or in the center of your vision.
The condition, which is linked to sight loss, is known as Charles Bonet syndrome.
Hallucinations can vary from simple flashes of light to seeing elaborate vistas.
Some people may see facial distortions.
It’s just your brain’s reaction to a sudden lack of input.
With time, the symptom usually goes away.
Alow-vision specialistcan help you learn to use visual aids.
Having geographic atrophy can also affect your mental healthfor example, it can cause or worsenanxietyordepression.
You may need more specific support to double-check you are coping with all of these needs effectively.
Exercising and doing activities that you love can also lift your mood.
If you have any symptoms you think might be geographic atrophy, contact an eye health provider right away.
They are each treatments that are injected directly into the affected eye by a healthcare provider.
Summary
In geographic atrophy, there might not be symptoms at first.
You may also find that detailed tasks take longer and require more light to complete.
Your contrast sensitivity may also be affected, with colors appearing more washed out.
Eventually, you notice a dark area, usually at the center of your vision.
While it’s not as common, your side vision can also be affected.
If you have geographic atrophy, it’s not uncommon to experience anxiety and depression.
It can be helpful to talk to others who are experiencing some of the same things as you.
There are many strategies that can help you to manage your symptoms and vision effectively for some time.
Bright Focus Foundation.What is geographic atrophy?.
Prevent Blindness.Eye diseases and conditions geographic atrophy.
Macular Society.Charles Bonnet syndrome.
2023 Oct;8(1):e001395.
doi: 10.1136/bmjophth-2023-001395
Food and Drug Administration.Izervay label.
Food and Drug Administration.Syfovre label.
