Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye condition characterized by macula degeneration that leads to blurry central vision and impairs one’s ability to read, drive and recognize faces – the leading cause of blindness among Americans over 50 years of age.

At first, AMD may not show any symptoms; instead it can only be identified through a comprehensive eye exam. But in later stages it may cause distortion to straight lines or loss of central vision in its patient.

1. Blurred or distorted vision

The macula of your eye allows you to clearly perceive fine details, so when this area deteriorates over time it can lead to blurred or distorted central vision, making reading, driving and other daily tasks harder than before. However, peripheral (side) vision remains unaffected; you could still recognize an outline of a clock but will no longer be able to read its numbers or view its hands.

Age related macular degeneration (ARMD or AMD), is caused when light-sensitive tissues in your retina deteriorate, leading to loss of sharp central vision while not impacting peripheral (side) vision. You may notice blurry or distorted central vision, dark spots in the center of your vision or distortion of straight lines – symptoms which could indicate macular degeneration in its early stages; macular degeneration runs in families often beginning around age 60.

Macular degeneration comes in two forms, dry and wet. Of these forms, dry macular degeneration is most frequently encountered, often leading to gradual vision loss over time and being distinguished by yellow drusen deposits underneath the retina visible through dilation eye exams. If these deposits increase in size or number, this could progress into geographic atrophy – an advanced stage of dry macular degeneration.

Wet macular degeneration is less frequent but still occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under or near the retina and leak blood and fluid into the macula, unlike its dry form which requires no such development. Unfortunately, unlike its dry form counterpart, wet macular degeneration often progresses quickly and is very hard to treat; symptoms include sudden or rapid central vision loss; distortion of straight lines; blurring or dark spots within your field of view and blurred or dark spots at random positions within it.

2. Loss of central vision

Macular degeneration occurs when the macula, a small area located on the retina (a light sensitive tissue at the back of your eye), becomes damaged. The macula provides central vision – enabling us to clearly perceive fine details – making reading, driving and other tasks that require central vision increasingly difficult; straight lines may even appear crooked or warped over time.

Macular degeneration may cause permanent vision loss, yet rarely leads to total blindness. Most times the decline occurs gradually without both eyes being affected simultaneously. While macular degeneration is one of the primary causes of blindness among adults aged sixty or over, it can be mitigated via diet containing fruits, vegetables and omega 3 rich fish such as those found in salmon. Many studies suggest this diet helps keep macular degeneration at bay.

AMD comes in two forms, dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration (DAMD), in which small yellow deposits called drusen form beneath the retina, begins breaking down light-sensitive cells of the retina, leading to central vision loss and eventually blindness.

Wet macular degeneration (WMD) occurs when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina and begin leaking fluid or blood, distorting your vision and ultimately leading to rapid loss of central vision. Wet AMD may occur among people who have early or intermediate AMD, with smoking, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure being associated factors.

Macular degeneration can be diagnosed through several tests, including an examination by an eye doctor. They may use a chart with black lines in a graph pattern to test your central vision or inject harmless dye into your arm and use an imaging technique called angiography to locate abnormal blood vessels underneath the retina.

3. Difficulty recognizing faces

Macular degeneration is an eye disease in which damage to or deterioration of the macula, a small central portion of retina, occurs. It is the leading cause of blindness for people over age 50 and causes central vision to blur while having no impact on peripheral or side vision; typically leading to partial blindness at first but rarely leading to total blindness.

AMD usually does not cause pain, with symptoms typically manifesting gradually over time. Signs may include straight lines appearing wavy or blank spots appearing in your center vision; occasionally your central vision becomes so clouded as to make daily tasks like reading or driving difficult. People suffering from wet macular degeneration, an uncommon form of AMD, often experience faster rates of central vision loss as well as dark spots forming near their central field of vision more quickly than with AMD alone.

Researchers have observed that with macular degeneration (AMD), people lose the ability to identify faces. This has been attributed to changes in the brain caused by AMD progression.

If you are experiencing difficulty recognising faces, it is essential that you schedule an appointment with your physician in order to address this concern and assess if treatment options might slow the progression of macular degeneration.

Age, race, family history, eye color, smoking history and obesity all increase your risk for AMD. One way to lower it is through eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fish–these contain antioxidant vitamins which may protect eyesight–in addition to quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight.

4. Difficulty reading

Macular degeneration is a degenerative eye condition that gradually impairs central vision, making daily tasks such as reading or driving increasingly challenging. The condition occurs when the macula of the retina (the layer at the back of your eye that absorbs light and transmits images to the brain) breaks down, leaving areas in your visual field blurry or distorted in its center.

Age is the primary risk factor for macular degeneration, although other risk factors such as family history, smoking and obesity may play a part. Diet may also play an influential role; eating plenty of antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin found naturally in fruits and vegetables may protect your macula from damage caused by oxygen-charged molecules known as free radicals which contribute to AMD.

Age related macular degeneration usually presents itself in two forms, dry and wet. Drusen deposits under the retina build up over time and damage the macula; while 10-15% of cases of ARMD fall under wet category where abnormal blood vessels grow beneath retina and leak fluid into macula; wet form often progresses more quickly than dry form; it accounts for 90% of severe visual loss in macular degeneration cases.

Macular degeneration cannot be stopped; however, patients can maintain quality of life with low vision aids like hand-held magnifying glasses and larger print books and magazines. There are electronic devices that can enlarge text or provide video of screen to aid reading; additionally, lighting in both home and car can be adjusted to reduce glare.

5. Difficulty driving

Macular degeneration is an eye condition that, once advanced, affects central vision and reduces an individual’s ability to carry out daily tasks such as driving.

AMD affects the macula, an area of retina that’s responsible for sharp, direct central vision. When affected by AMD, this macula can become weakened or darkened and lead to blurry or blocked central vision; difficulties recognizing faces or seeing details in objects (such as numbers on clocks or road markings ). Peripheral or side vision is typically still intact and can still be used for tasks like driving.

Macular degeneration occurs in two forms – dry and wet. The former develops when light-sensitive cells in the macula of the retina begin to degenerate over time; symptoms do not usually appear immediately. For wet macular degeneration however, this process occurs much more rapidly as abnormal blood vessels form beneath retina and cause yellow deposits known as “drusen” to form on its surface causing more serious damage than dry degeneration can do.

As there are various methods available to them to reduce their risk of macular degeneration, people can do many things to lower it such as eating foods rich in antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin found in green leafy vegetables, and also avoid smoking as this tends to accelerate progression of macular degeneration more quickly in smokers than nonsmokers. It would also be wise to visit an eye doctor regularly so any issues are detected at an early stage and can be treated quickly when symptoms emerge.