Macular degeneration is the loss of central vision due to damage to your eye’s macula, an area located at the back of the retina that provides sharp, straight-ahead focus. This condition hinders reading, driving, computer work or smartphone usage, recognising faces or colors and seeing fine details.

However, this condition does not result in complete blindness; your peripheral (side) vision remains intact.

Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (DAMD)

Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss. While its progression varies among patients, its effect can cause severe vision problems that impede daily activities like reading and driving independently. Unfortunately, however, most patients ignore its symptoms until they become impaired enough that daily tasks become impossible due to blurry vision; unfortunately this means many seek medical help only after suffering severe visual symptoms that compromise independence in their daily activities.

AMD remains poorly understood at the molecular level despite its considerable social cost, yet remains poorly understood at an individual level. Current theory holds that genetic and metabolic cues cause decades of low-grade inflammation at the retina photoreceptor (RPE)/Bruch’s membrane interface that ultimately compromises metabolic exchanges essential to photoreceptor function; over time this leads to macular degeneration and loss of central vision.

Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most prevalent forms of AMD, marked by gradual and progressive vision loss. Drusen deposits beneath the retina cause this condition by breaking down light-sensitive cells that transmit visual information into the brain from eyeball. Early stage AMD can typically be identified during routine dilated eye examination.

Recent advances in regenerative medicine have focused on cell delivery to the subretinal space as a strategy to replenish and preserve RPE function. Biomaterials have been utilized as delivery vehicles for retinal pigment epithelial stem cells as well as progenitor cell types that can replace degenerating RPE while creating an intact matrix in the retinal environment. Such approaches have proved successful at slowing progression of macular degeneration without restoring lost visual acuity; an experimental strategy using prostaglandin E1 may modulate RPE response in response to visual stress.

Atrophic Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AAMD)

Macular degeneration occurs when there is a breakdown of the macula, a small area located within your retina that provides central vision. It enables you to clearly see fine details while threading a needle, driving and reading; over time macular degeneration may lead to legal blindness if left untreated and interferes with everyday tasks; symptoms include distortion, dark areas and blurriness which make it hard to see straight lines clearly.

Macular degeneration comes in two forms, both known as wet AMD with abnormal blood vessels and dry AMD with drusen deposits, the former usually leading to tissue thinnout around the macula as it begins when tiny deposits known as drusen form underneath the retina. Most people develop dry AMD, with its symptoms including tissue thinning caused by tiny deposits called drusen developing under their retinas. Most commonly affected is dry AMD due to this cause thinning around their macula due to thinning tissues around their macula due to tissue thinning caused by thinned out tissues around their macula due to tissue thinning caused by tiny deposits known as drusen that form under their retinal surface causing them retinal damage and loss over time causing degeneration over time affecting all aspects of macular degeneration including wet forms caused by abnormal blood vessels appearing under their retinal surfaces resulting in degeneration occurring later down its course of disease development; most individuals will eventually progress into wet AMD caused by abnormal blood vessels growing under retinal surface layers; most people usually develop dry form of disease due to tissue thinning caused by thinning around macula tissues becoming thinner due to thinning occurring underneath retinal deposits known as drusen developing under retinae.

At first, vision loss with macular degeneration may seem gradual and slow; patients should use an Amsler grid provided by eye care professionals and visit their doctor regularly in order to monitor vision changes. Diet rich in antioxidants and zinc may also help sluggish progression; additionally there is now an injectable drug (ANX007) shown to significantly slow geographic atrophy progression in the ARCHER study, offering relief. ANX007 injections should be given monthly or every other month and it’s safe for use both eyes.

Wet macular degeneration is much more serious and occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak blood and fluid, which can be treated using anti-VEGF injections or photodynamic therapy using verteporfin and/or laser. Treatments like these can reduce but not completely eliminate risk of severe vision loss; however, only approximately 10% of people diagnosed with macular degeneration actually have it.

Leakage Age-Related Macular Degeneration (LAMD)

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye condition in which damage to your macula damages central vision, making it harder to see fine details and objects while still having peripheral (side) vision. AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness among Americans over 50 years of age, though usually does not result in complete blindness; you may have difficulty driving or engaging in activities requiring clear central vision such as reading maps.

Macular degeneration can be divided into two forms, dry and wet macular degeneration. Eighty-five to ninety percent of cases fall under the dry category where small deposits known as drusen gradually build up behind the macula. Conversely, when abnormal blood vessels proliferate under the retina they leak fluid or blood and may lead to rapid vision loss as opposed to its dry counterpart.

Preventing wet AMD can be done through eating more leafy greens, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables as well as dark-pigmented foods containing lutein and zeaxanthin. Supplements containing vitamins C and E as well as zinc and copper may further lower your risk.

Leakage macular degeneration can be effectively treated by injecting medication directly into the eye. Avastin and lucentis are two widely-used options; both work by blocking a hormone responsible for fluid leakage from retinal blood vessels. If you observe any noticeable changes, such as distortion of straight lines or blank spaces that appear wavy or crookedness, seek medical assistance immediately!

Those diagnosed with wet macular degeneration must seek medical treatment immediately; otherwise, blood and fluid will damage your central vision, potentially rendering you incapable of driving or engaging in other activities which require clear central vision. While wet macular degeneration typically affects both eyes, one eye is usually affected faster.

Laser Age-Related Macular Degeneration (LAAMD)

Neovascular AMD, more commonly referred to as wet macular degeneration, occurs when blood vessels leak fluid underneath the retina causing distortion and blurring of central vision. A University of Iowa team led by electrical and computer engineering professor Milan Sonka is working hard to unravel its mechanism as this disease affects 2 million American.

This project seeks to explore the role of matrix metalloproteinase 9 enzyme in the formation of leaky blood vessels. If successful, this may reveal new strategies to stop progression of wet macular degeneration and treat symptoms when they appear.

Paul Bernstein, MD, PhD divides his time between medical and surgical treatments of eye diseases at Moran Eye Center as well as research into basic science of retina and vitreous. His prior work established the importance of vitamins such as lutein and zeaxanthin as well as omega-3 fatty acids in maintaining macular health; furthermore he contributed to National Eye Institute AREDS II clinical trial which provides definitive recommendations regarding nutritional interventions that slow age-related macular degeneration progression.

Bernstein has written over one hundred peer-reviewed research articles and reviews as well as eight book chapters, providing key new information about the mechanisms underlying major forms of macular degeneration such as Stargardt macular dystrophy. Recently, his lab demonstrated for the first time how high intakes of omega-3 fatty acids may offer protection from certain genetic mutations associated with Stargardt macular dystrophy.

He is co-investigator on a large study that will use an electronic device to detect and monitor choroidal neovascularization (CNV) lesions in patients with advanced dry macular degeneration, wet AMD, and high myopia – in order to understand how CNV lesions impact long-term visual outcomes for these individuals.