Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that may get worse over time. It’s the leading cause of severe, permanent
vision loss in people over 60 years old. It happens when the small central portion of your retina, called the macula, wears down. The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of your eye. Because
the disease happens as you get older, it’s often called age-related macular degeneration. It usually doesn’t cause blindness but might cause severe vision problems. Another form of macular degeneration, called Stargardt disease or juvenile macular degeneration, affects children and young adults. There are two main types of age-related macular degeneration: Dry form. People
with the most common type of AMD, called dry AMD, may have yellow deposits, called drusen, in their macula. A few small drusen may not cause changes in your vision. But as they get bigger and more numerous, they might dim or distort your vision, especially when you read. It causes gradual vision loss, and as the condition gets worse, the light-sensitive cells in your macula get thinner and
eventually die. In the atrophic form, you may have blind spots in the center of your vision. As that gets worse, you might lose central vision. There are three stages of dry AMD: early, intermediate, and late. The disease usually gets worse slowly over the course of several years. Some people start out with dry AMD and then develop wet AMD. Wet form. This is a less common type of late-stage AMD. It tends to cause faster vision loss. Unstable
blood vessels grow from underneath your macula. These blood vessels leak blood and fluid into your retina. Your vision is distorted so that straight lines look wavy. You may also have blind spots and loss of central vision. These blood vessels and their bleeding eventually form a scar, leading to permanent loss of central vision. Most people with macular degeneration have the dry form, but it can lead to the
wet form. Only about 10% of people with macular degeneration have the wet form. If you have macular degeneration, you’ll need to see your eye doctor regularly and let them know whenever you notice changes in your vision. Early on, you might not have any noticeable signs
of macular degeneration. It might not be diagnosed until it gets worse or affects both eyes. Symptoms of macular degeneration may include: If you have any of these symptoms, go to an eye doctor as soon as possible. Age-related macular degeneration is more common in older people. It’s the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over 60. Macular degeneration may have something to do with your genes. If someone in your family has it, your risk might be higher. Some other things that could raise your chances of getting it are:
How Is Macular Degeneration Diagnosed?Your doctor can check you for age-related macular degeneration when you see them for a routine eye exam . and have your eyes eyes dilated. They'll test your vision and also examine your retina – a layer of tissue at the back of your eye that processes light. They'll look for tiny yellow deposits called drusen under the retina. It's a common early sign of the disease. Your doctor may also ask you to look at an Amsler grid – a pattern of straight lines that's like a checkerboard. If some of the lines appear wavy to you or some of them are missing, it could be a sign of macular degeneration. If your doctor finds age-related macular degeneration, you may have a procedure called angiography or one called OCT. In angiography, your doctor injects dye into a vein in your arm. They take photographs as the dye flows through the blood vessels in your retina. If there are new vessels, or if vessels are leaking fluid or blood in your macula, the photos will show their exact location and type. OCT is able to see fluid or blood underneath your retina without dye. It’s important to see your eye doctor regularly to find signs of macular degeneration early. Treatment can slow the condition or make it less severe. There’s no cure for macular degeneration. Treatment may slow it down or keep you from losing too much of your vision. Right now, there aren’t medicines or procedures for dry AMD. Instead, your eye doctor may recommend: Diet changes. They may tell you to eat a balanced diet that’s rich in antioxidants and includes eye-friendly foods like dark leafy greens, yellow fruits and veggies, and fish. Supplements. A large study by the National Eye Institute, called AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study), found that a certain combination of vitamins and nutrients may protect the eyes in some people with intermediate or late-stage AMD. The supplements may slow intermediate AMD from becoming advanced and might help some people keep their sight longer, too. Researchers later tweaked the formula, giving it the name AREDS2. If you have a lot of drusen in your eyes, your doctor might recommend you take AREDS2 supplements. If you’ve lost vision in one eye, the supplements may also lower your chances of getting wet AMD and vision loss in your other eye. AREDS2 supplements are sold over the counter without a prescription. It’s a combination of:
These supplements don’t help everyone with dry AMD, though. Ask your eye doctor if they might be right for you. If they give you the green light, ask them to recommend a brand. Also ask your doctor to explain all the possible benefits and risks before you start taking them. They may be part of some people’s treatment for wet AMD, too. Low vision aids. These are devices that have special lenses or electronic systems to create larger images of nearby things. They help people who have vision loss from dry or wet macular degeneration make the most of their remaining vision. If you have wet AMD, your treatment options might include: Anti-angiogenesis drugs. These medications – aflibercept (Eylea), bevacizumab (Avastin), faricimab-svoa (Vabysmo), pegaptanib (Macugen), and ranibizumab (Lucentis) – block the creation of blood vessels and leaking from the vessels in your eye that cause wet macular degeneration. Many people who’ve taken these drugs got back some vision that was lost. You might need to have this treatment multiple times. Laser therapy. High-energy laser light can destroy abnormal blood vessels growing in your eye. Photodynamic laser therapy. Your doctor injects a light-sensitive drug – verteporfin
(Visudyne) – into your bloodstream, and it’s absorbed by the abnormal blood vessels. Your doctor then shines a laser into your eye to trigger the medication to damage those blood vessels. Researchers are also studying new treatments for age-related macular degeneration, but they’re experimental. They include: If you don’t have AMD, you can practice some healthy habits that may help you lower your chances of getting it: Be aware that you can’t help prevent AMD by taking nutritional
supplements, though. People rarely lose all of their vision from age-related macular degeneration. Their central vision might be bad, but they’re still able to do many normal daily activities. Usually, you're still able to use your peripheral vision. The dry form of age-related macular degeneration tends to get worse slowly, so you can keep most of your vision. The wet form of macular degeneration is a leading cause of permanent vision loss. If it’s in both of your eyes, it may affect your quality of life. Wet macular degeneration can need repeated treatments. Test your vision regularly, and follow your doctor’s advice. What does macular degeneration look like at beginning?If you're in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration, you may not have symptoms. The first sign you may notice is a gradual or sudden change in the quality of your vision or that straight lines appear distorted to you. This may gradually turn into a dramatic loss of your central vision.
How do you deal with dry macular degeneration?Even after receiving a diagnosis of dry macular degeneration, you can take steps that may help slow vision loss.. Don't smoke. If you smoke, ask your doctor for help to quit.. Choose a healthy diet. ... . Manage your other medical conditions. ... . Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. ... . Have routine eye exams.. What are the hallmark signs of dry macular degeneration?Symptoms. Visual distortions, such as straight lines seeming bent.. Reduced central vision in one or both eyes.. The need for brighter light when reading or doing close-up work.. Increased difficulty adapting to low light levels, such as when entering a dimly lit restaurant.. Increased blurriness of printed words.. How quickly does dry macular degeneration progress?The general timeline for the progression of dry AMD from the initial diagnosis to significant vision loss is usually over several years, often within 10 years. However, with the right treatment, many AMD patients can reduce the risk of significant vision loss and preserve their vision for many years.
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