Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), often called macular degeneration, is a common eye disease that impairs the central part of your vision.
While there is no cure for AMD, there are effective treatments that can help slow AMD progression and manage symptoms. Early detection and ongoing management are critical to preserving vision and maintaining quality of life.
To better understand AMD, try thinking of your eye as a camera.
Just like a camera, your eye has a lens near the front that focuses light. When the light passes through the lens it lands at the back of your eye, the retina.
Like film in a camera, the retina captures the shapes and colors of the light to make an image for you to see. The macula is the center of the retina, and it’s responsible for the clarity of the image you see and the vibrancy of the colors.
Having macular degeneration is like using a camera with film that’s partly damaged in the middle. AMD’s effect on your vision depends on the amount of damage in your macula, but no matter how advanced your macular degeneration is, it mainly affects your central vision. AMD is unlikely to affect your peripheral or side vision.
There is typically no change in vision, but a doctor can see medium-size drusen during an eye exam.
An eye exam shows larger drusen or changes in the color of the retina. There may be no symptoms yet or minor symptoms.
There are symptoms such as wavy or blurred vision, blind spots and trouble seeing in low light. Advanced macular degeneration can be dry or wet AMD.
You may be wondering why you developed AMD. So many factors can contribute to the condition that it’s impossible to say exactly which played a role in yours. Some risk factors are beyond our control:
Age: In the US, approximately 1 in 10 people aged 50 and older have AMD
Family history: Due to genetics, close relatives are more likely to develop macular degeneration
Gender: Women get AMD more often than men, but this difference may be because women tend to live longer than men
Skin color: People with light skin are more likely to develop AMD than people with darker skin
Eye color: People with lighter colored eyes may be at a higher risk to develop AMD
Research shows other risk factors for AMD and its progression may be within our control. You can try to reduce your AMD progression by making these changes:
Smoking: People who smoke or live with smokers are considerably more likely to develop AMD
Sun exposure: UV rays from the sun may increase the risk for AMD; sunglasses can protect your eyes
Diet: A high-fat diet is linked to an increased risk for AMD. Eating foods such as dark leafy greens, along with taking eye vitamins and supplements, may help reduce progression
High blood pressure and cholesterol levels: Unmanaged, these conditions can increase the risk of macular degeneration and its progression
Obesity: Being obese is linked to a significant increase in the risk of AMD
Inactivity: Lack of aerobic exercise may be linked to macular degeneration. Being active may slow its progression
Medications: Some antipsychotics and malaria treatments may increase the risk of AMD. Speak to your doctor about your medications and the potential impact on your AMD progression
AMD is a progressive eye condition that affects central vision. It comes in 2 main forms (dry AMD and wet AMD) and progresses through distinct stages.
Dry AMD has 3 stages: early, intermediate and late AMD. Early and intermediate management are essential to help reduce the progression to late AMD, for which there is no treatment. Managing vision and protecting the unaffected eye are key strategies in these stages
Wet AMD only has one stage and is always considered a late-stage condition. Wet AMD typically results in rapid vision loss. Fortunately, treatments are available that can slow its progression and help preserve vision
Early AMD (dry):
No noticeable symptoms at this stage
Detectable through an eye exam
Intermediate AMD (dry):
Mild central blurriness
Difficulty seeing in dim lighting
Detectable through an eye exam
Late AMD (dry or wet):
Straight lines may appear wavy or distorted
Blurry or blank spots develop in the center of your vision
Colors may appear dull or faded
Difficulty with low-light vision becomes more noticeable
If you notice any of the following, schedule an appointment immediately:
Straight lines that appear wavy or crooked
Blurry or blank spots in your central vision
These changes can indicate late-stage AMD, which requires prompt treatment, especially if wet AMD is involved.
Early detection is key to managing conditions like AMD. Don't wait for symptoms to appear. Schedule your eye exam today.
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