Juvenile macular degeneration (JMD) is an eye condition which damages the macula, leading to central vision loss in one or both eyes.

Symptoms usually emerge during childhood or early adolescence and may be accompanied by an Amsler grid. At an eye exam, your doctor will administer drops that widen your pupils to enable him or her to examine the back of your retina.

1. Drusen in the macula

Drusen are small yellow deposits found in the retina – the back layer of tissue at the back of your eye that contains light-sensing rods and cones – located at the back of your eye. When located centrally within macula region, this could be one of the first signs of macular degeneration; though drusen doesn’t always indicate macular degeneration it does indicate that conditions could worsen with time. It is important to keep in mind that having these deposits doesn’t guarantee diagnosis but rather indicates the likelihood that your condition will progressively get worse over time.

Drusen are caused by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage. They’re most prevalent among people experiencing age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease which gradually diminishes central vision. Aside from drusen formation, macular degeneration may also result in macula thinning and dry macular degeneration – the latter of which affects 90% of cases of macular degeneration.

Small numbers of drusen are considered normal; however, if you notice multiple large drusen it could be an early warning sign of macular degeneration. Regular eye exams with your physician are highly recommended to detect early onset macular degeneration; your doctor will conduct an eye exam and may use an eye chart to assess how well you read small letters as well as optical coherence tomography (OCT) or fluorescein angiography to highlight blood vessels within the retina.

Your doctor can detect either dry or wet macular degeneration during these tests, with wet AMD being more serious and leading to rapid progression of vision loss primarily in the center of your visual field. However, there are ways you can reduce your risk for wet AMD such as maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, managing cholesterol and blood pressure appropriately and eating foods rich in nutrients and phytochemicals.

2. Changes in your vision

As dry macular degeneration progresses, you may notice changes in your vision. Over time however, straight lines can begin to look wavy, while the center of your visual field becomes obscured or lost, making activities such as reading, driving and recognising faces difficult or impossible.

Your visual field is home to fine details like lettering on signs and faces as well as color nuances, so any time there is any difficulty seeing finer elements it is crucial that you contact an eye care provider immediately. If this occurs it may require medical intervention or emergency attention from emergency responders if symptoms arise such as blurry vision. If this is the case for you it’s essential that an appointment be scheduled with an ophthalmologist immediately.

If you have early onset macular degeneration, seeing your physician may help to slow its progression by suggesting specific vitamins or lifestyle modifications. Diagnosing this condition properly requires having it accurately diagnosed by a trained eye health professional using various tests such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), retinal photography and fluorescein angiography.

Stargardt disease typically manifests itself during early teen years and is an inherited form of macular degeneration caused by gene mutation, with abnormal blood vessels developing within the macula as a result of which an abnormal growth pattern emerges.

If you have this condition, it’s essential that you visit an eye health professional regularly and track any changes to your vision between visits. A simple way is using an Amsler grid – which consists of horizontal and vertical lines placed about 12 inches from each eye separately – as an indicator for worsening macular degeneration. If any lines begin to bend or disappear entirely it could signal worsening of your macular degeneration; now may also be an opportune moment to discuss treatment with family or friends who also suffer from this disease as they too can talk openly about their disease experience with one another about what should be expected in terms of diagnosis and treatments options available to them as well.

3. Objects appear blurry or wavy

One of the early symptoms of macular degeneration is blurred or wavy vision. This results from damage done to the macula by macular degeneration; if your central vision begins to blur, schedule an eye exam at a macular degeneration treatment center immediately. Your specialist will conduct a dilated eye exam in order to detect drusen and abnormal blood vessels; they may also use an Amsler grid in order to evaluate whether your central vision seems faded or distorted.

At the early stages of wet macular degeneration, new blood vessels may form beneath your retina and lead to fluid leaks, potentially bulging or puckering the macula and altering how light is reflected back onto your retina. This can make straight lines appear wavy or curvy or cause their borders to blur together, making straight lines difficult to see altogether.

As this disease progresses, new blood vessels can scar and break down resulting in blind spots. Therefore, it is crucial that you regularly assess your vision using an Amsler grid and notify your physician immediately if you detect any changes.

If you are at risk of macular degeneration (AMD), eating a diet rich in antioxidants and taking vitamin C and zinc supplements is crucial to slowing its progress and improving vision. Furthermore, quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight will further prevent AMD’s progression.

4. You experience glare or light sensitivity

As soon as your central part of vision begins to blur, this could be a telltale sign that macular degeneration has advanced. Your doctor may use an Amsler grid test to check your eyesight and observe whether straight lines become wavy or disappear altogether; this helps assess whether you have dry or wet macular degeneration and its level of progressivity.

Some individuals with macular degeneration progress into its wet form, which can result in permanent loss of central vision. This condition occurs when abnormal blood vessels appear beneath the macula and leak blood and fluid, eventually scarring and rapidly decreasing your central vision. If you detect sudden changes to your vision, seek medical assistance at once – treatment could stop new blood vessels from sprouting under your macula, slowing their progression down and prevent rapid vision loss.

If you have early onset macular degeneration, it’s crucial that you visit an eye health center regularly and follow their recommendations. Catching macular degeneration early is more likely to slow its progress and preserve central vision loss – possibly saving it altogether.

Avoid macular degeneration by quitting smoking, eating a diet rich in green vegetables and “eye-healthy” foods, and wearing UV-blocking sunglasses. If diagnosed with wet macular degeneration, medicated injections or laser therapy may slow the rate of vision loss; however, they won’t restore central vision; vitamin C, beta-carotene, and zinc supplements may help improve vision further.

5. You experience blind spots

The macula of your retina enables clear sight in your direct line of sight. Its light-sensitive cells send messages directly to your brain about what you see; when these cells become damaged by macular degeneration, central vision becomes impaired while peripheral vision (side viewing) remains relatively untouched.

Macular degeneration may progress gradually (“dry AMD”) or rapidly (“wet AMD). With wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and leak blood and fluid into its tissue, interfering with its function – this causes straight lines to look wavy, blind spots may develop quickly and may lead to straightening problems in straight areas.

Your doctor can identify whether you have dry or wet macular degeneration through conducting a comprehensive eye exam, including performing the familiar “light test”, in which they shine multiple lights into each of your eyes and ask you to read a chart with letters that vary in size. In addition, OCT and fluorescein angiography tests may also be conducted to further examine your eyes.

Your doctor may refer you to a genetic counselor in order to ascertain whether there are genes which increase the chances of macular degeneration in specific areas, so you can take proactive steps and plan ahead for protecting and improving vision health.

Macular degeneration does not usually result in blindness when treated properly, yet can have serious ramifications on independence and quality of life. You may require assistance for everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning and driving as well as your relationships changing due to macular degeneration’s impact. Furthermore, depression or other mental health problems may arise.