Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease which leads to blurring of central vision due to damage to the macula, located at the center of your retina and responsible for seeing details when looking straight ahead.

Macular degeneration comes in two varieties, dry and wet. There are new treatments that may slow or even reverse vision loss in certain instances.

Age

Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss among people aged 60 or above, destroying central vision, which allows people to clearly perceive fine details and drive safely. There are two forms: dry macular degeneration (also referred to as Atrophic Macular Degeneration or AMD) and wet macular degeneration (called Neovascular or Exudative AMD).

Early stages of dry macular degeneration often don’t cause noticeable vision changes; however, as it worsens it may lead to central vision becoming blurry or distorted and straight lines may appear crooked or wavy. People living with advanced wet macular degeneration typically have a small blind spot at the center of their visual field but can often still function normally using peripheral (side) vision.

Scientists are developing new drugs and procedures for treating wet macular degeneration. Visudyne can sometimes treat this disease through photodynamic therapy (PDT), by dissolving abnormal blood vessels that form under the retina – this procedure is known as photodynamic therapy or PDT; laser surgery uses focused beams of light to stop or slow further growth of abnormal blood vessels; neither treatment may restore lost central vision completely, but may delay further loss.

Studies suggest that eating foods rich in certain vitamins can help slow or stop macular degeneration. Such nutrients include carotenoids – pigments found in fruits and vegetables that contribute their colors – such as lutein and zeaxanthin that have been found to protect against advanced macular degeneration by blocking harmful oxygen-charged molecules; such foods include kale, raw spinach, collard greens.

Smoking

Macular degeneration affects the macula, a small area in the back of our eye that helps us see fine detail and straight ahead. Our eyes rely on it for reading, driving, working on computers and smartphones, recognising faces and colors and even focussing on objects close up. Macular degeneration causes blurry, distorted vision that may even result in complete blindness if left untreated.

Macular degeneration’s exact cause remains unknown; however, smoking increases its risk significantly. Smoking reduces blood flow to the retina and may increase fluid leakage from damaged blood vessels beneath it, both factors believed to contribute to macular degeneration.

There are two forms of macular degeneration, Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (DAMD) and Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration. DAMD is characterized by yellow deposits under the retina called drusen that break down light-sensitive cells of the macula, typically without any noticeable symptoms, but can be detected via dilated eye exam.

Wet macular degeneration is less prevalent but more serious. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina, leaking fluid that distorts central vision and leads to sudden vision loss.

Damage from wet macular degeneration is irreversible and cannot be stopped, but doctors may use laser treatment to destroy leaking blood vessels that lead to it. The treatment uses painless laser light which may slow or stop its progression but will not restore vision lost to wet macular degeneration.

Diet

Macular degeneration occurs when the macula of an eye starts to weaken over time, leading to blurring of your central vision that makes reading, driving or recognising faces difficult. This condition progresses over time causing difficulty for you. Retinal degeneration does not impact side (peripheral) vision and typically does not result in blindness, although it is more prevalent among people over 60 years old. Early symptoms include blurriness in your central vision or darkened spots in its center. Other symptoms may include distortion of geometric shapes, difficulty adapting to low lighting conditions and need for brighter illumination when reading. The macula is responsible for sharp, central vision that enables us to see fine details, colors and focus on objects at various distances.

Age-related macular degeneration occurs in two forms, dry and wet. Around 85-90% of cases show dry symptoms such as yellow deposits known as drusen forming under the retina that tend to progress slowly over time. Only 10-15% have wet symptoms which involve abnormal blood vessels growing beneath the retina that leak fluid or blood into it causing more severe central vision loss than with dry forms.

Diet is an essential tool in combatting macular degeneration. Eating foods rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, Lutein and Zeaxanthin may help slow its progress; fruits and vegetables are excellent sources for this vitamin content, along with nuts beans and fish. Incorporating more foods rich in essential fatty acids and proteins is also helpful; make sure to talk with your physician about potential supplements to treat or prevent age-related macular degeneration.

Genetics

Macular degeneration is an incurable progressive eye condition that causes blurring of your central vision, due to damage to the macula (a small area at the back of each eye containing millions of light-sensing cells). Macular degeneration interferes with activities requiring sharp central vision such as reading and driving but does not lead to loss of peripheral (side) vision.

Genetics play an integral role in almost three out of every four cases of macular degeneration. Risk increases with age and when there is a family history. Also having certain genes associated with complement systems increases one’s chance of advanced macular degeneration as they produce proteins which help the body respond to foreign materials like bacteria and viruses.

Early on in macular degeneration, deposits known as drusen form beneath the retina. Although these do not cause vision loss directly, those with multiple drusen have an increased risk of macular degeneration advancing to more serious forms.

If you have advanced macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels may form beneath your retina and leak fluid into the macula, eventually leading to its breakdown and eventual dysfunction. Wet macular degeneration’s symptoms include loss of central vision; straight lines appearing bent or wavy and faces becoming hard to recognize quickly as your central vision disappears quickly as disease progresses – faster if more advanced. For this type of macular degeneration it is recommended to get regular eye exams to monitor its progression.

Environment

Rods and cones in our retina contain light-sensitive cells called rods and cones that enable us to see fine details clearly. However, as we age these light-sensitive cells break down leading to macular degeneration which results in blurry central vision making tasks like driving difficult or impossible, such as threading a needle threader needle threader threader etc difficult or impossible affecting approximately 2 million Americans over 65 but does not lead to total blindness since other parts of their eyes (peripheral vision) continue functioning normally.

Macular degeneration typically starts in one eye and its symptoms include blurry, dimmed central vision, or distortion of straight lines. With dry macular degeneration, deposits under the retina called drusen may become visible; over time this could progress into wet macular degeneration when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath it and leak fluid, leading to loss of central vision in affected persons who had previously developed dry forms of this disease. Wet macular degeneration typically only develops in people who already had dry forms of macular degeneration as it often follows on its heels after having had dry forms already started with one or both forms.

Diets rich in certain nutrients such as vitamin C, E, lutein and zeaxanthin may help slow macular degeneration. These antioxidants may protect macula cells from oxygen-charged molecules known as free radicals as well as maintain normal blood supply to the retina. Foods high in these essential vitamins include green leafy vegetables, tomatoes and oranges while nutritional supplements containing these vitamins and minerals may also be available.

Optometrist exams can detect macular degeneration with ease, by inspecting the retina under magnification and measuring central vision using a special grid. Fundus fluorescein angiography also offers further insight into wet macular degeneration by picking up on bleeding and leakage of new blood vessels typical of wet degeneration.