Overview
An eye care specialist, such as an ophthalmologist or a retina specialist, can diagnose WMD with a combination of methods.
The first step is a routine eye exam. During that exam, they can view your retinas directly. That’s possible either with a handheld instrument called an ophthalmoscope, or by dilating your pupils and doing a slit lamp exam. They may also use an Amsler grid eye test, a simple grid chart that makes it easier to see distortions in your vision (the distortions in your retina will distort the way the grid looks to you).
In addition to an eye exam and the slit lamp exam, an eye care specialist can also use noninvasive diagnostic imaging tests. These let your eye specialist look at the internal structures and blood vessels at the back of your eye. The possible tests include:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT).
- Fluorescein angiography.
- Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA).
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Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.
The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.
Prevention
Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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