Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease that causes central vision to fade over time, typically in both eyes simultaneously but without impacting side (peripheral) vision.

AMD begins when yellow deposits known as drusen form beneath the retina. Over time, this can progress into wet AMD where abnormal blood vessels grow beneath it and leak fluid underneath it.

Early Symptoms

AMD occurs when the central part of the retina, known as the macula, thins with age and eventually cannot process light sensing cells properly resulting in blurry central vision. This disease progresses in two steps. Dry macular degeneration begins first with small yellow deposits under the retina known as drusen appearing without symptoms but which could indicate that macula thickness has decreased. Ultimately this could lead to further complications later on as retinal cells stop sensing light properly and eventually blurry central vision becomes an issue. Symptoms appear gradually throughout this initial stage but eventually can result in blurry central vision as light sensing cells cannot function normally enough due to shrinkage. This stage does not lead directly into further symptoms yet either way but indicates macula thinness over time.

Wet Macular Degeneration (WMD), although less prevalent, occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid into it, creating dark spots in the center of each eye (blind spots) as they leak their contents outward. This condition typically leads to sudden worsening of central vision as well as distortion of straight lines.

No one should experience pain from wet or dry AMD, yet the symptoms can still interfere with daily activities. If any early signs appear, contact your ophthalmologist as soon as possible; they will conduct tests to detect it and its progression; including visual field and retinal photography tests.

Anti-VEGF injections are often administered as a solution for wet macular degeneration, as this drug helps limit new blood vessel growth while slowing leakage from existing ones. This medication is administered via an extremely thin needle and may help prevent or delay further vision loss.

Laser therapy may help destroy leaking blood vessels and restore vision in some instances; however, this treatment is less successful in dealing with dry macular degeneration. People over 50 are particularly at risk of suffering this painful and potentially sight-robbing disease and those who smoke are especially at risk; early diagnosis and treatment can delay and even reverse damage done to eyesight – therefore regular visits to an ophthalmologist are crucial in monitoring its progression and taking necessary corrective action when necessary.

Diagnosis

Macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease which gradually and ultimately leads to vision loss, primarily affects the central portion of your retina known as the macula. Your macula sends light signals from your eyeballs directly to your brain for improved sight, but when damaged it causes central vision blurriness; leading to legal blindness in the US. Thanks to advancements in medicine and surgery AMD progression can be delayed considerably and people can maintain good central vision longer thanks to AMD treatment advances.

Ophthalmologists – doctors specializing in eye care – can detect early symptoms of disease by conducting an eye exam. Ophthalmologists will dilate their pupils in order to examine both retina and macula; looking out for signs such as yellow deposits called “drusen,” which vary in size under the retina; larger drusen indicate more advanced disease. Furthermore, they look out for changes in pigment layer thickness or other signs of macular degeneration.

At a comprehensive eye exam, patients with dry macular degeneration may be prescribed certain dietary supplements containing antioxidants and zinc to slow its progression and protect central vision. Anti-VEGF medication can also help slow abnormal blood vessel growth while stopping leakage of fluid that damages retinas permanently and causes vision loss. For wet macular degeneration patients, anti-VEGF treatments such as steroids may help slow fluid loss from damaging blood vessels and slow its damage as well.

Studies demonstrate that AMD treatments may delay its progression and even restore vision loss in some instances. Early detection is crucial; individuals at high risk should begin having comprehensive eye exams at age 40 (if not already done so) or 65; others with no risk factors should have an eye exam at least every one to two years.

Prevention of macular degeneration begins with eating well – including plenty of fruits and vegetables – exercising regularly, quitting smoking and going for regular eye exams for those at higher risk.

Treatments

Good news is that AMD doesn’t progress quickly and can be detected and treated through regular eye exams. If your vision is worsening, don’t wait – reach out now so our doctor can examine you for AMD and other eye issues!

Ninety percent of those suffering from AMD have the dry form, which involves gradual loss of macula tissue thickness and gradual decreases in vision. Ten percent have wet AMD which involves abnormal blood vessels growing and leaking fluid onto retinal scarring, creating central blind spots and making reading, driving or performing activities requiring close vision difficult. Unfortunately, wet AMD progresses more rapidly than dry AMD.

At its onset, AMD may cause small deposits known as drusen to appear under the retina that vary in size and shape. By intermediate stage, an eye doctor may observe straight lines appearing wavy or blurry and colors seeming less vibrant; finally, in advanced stage AMD, an eye doctor may observe large drusen, changes to retina pigment or find that central visual field has become empty or dark.

Anti-VEGF (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) drugs provide the ideal way to combat wet macular degeneration; these injections should be given either every month or every two months and provide monthly or bimonthly injections that inhibit new abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage, known as anti-VEGF medications (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor). Although these medicines won’t restore lost vision they can slow the progression of vision loss while improving visual acuity in certain patients.

Laser surgery may also be considered as an option for advanced wet AMD. This involves using a high energy laser to destroy leaky, abnormal blood vessels in the macula that have developed leakiness or abnormality, improving visual acuity but is less effective than drug treatments for all patients.

Macular degeneration cannot yet be reversed, so until a cure can be found it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and visit your eye doctor regularly. The National Eye Institute is funding research into its causes so scientists may one day find ways to stop and reverse it.

Prevention

AMD impacts the central portion of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue inside of the back of the eye that converts light into visual images that the brain interprets as sight. Central vision is essential to everyday tasks such as reading, driving a car and recognising faces or colors – it is an integral component of our visual field that serves the most vital purposes in our lives. Advanced AMD can cause dimming and distortion to central vision, as well as result in severe loss of sight if left untreated. There are two primary types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. Dry AMD is the more prevalent form, progressing slowly through accumulation of yellow deposits known as drusen under the macula. Wet AMD develops quickly and may lead to sudden, severe loss of central vision. Wet macular degeneration occurs when new fragile blood vessels form under retina and macula and leak blood and fluid onto retina and macula cells, disrupting light-sensitive functions in retina cells that causes blurry or blind spots in central vision.

Early diagnosis is key to effectively managing and preserving vision from AMD; although no cure or known prevention measures exist at present. A regular eye exam with your eye care professional, including pupil dilation and visual acuity testing, will detect changes to central vision clarity or sharpness as well as provide you with an Amsler grid to take home with you to check at home on an ongoing basis.

While the precise cause of AMD remains elusive, certain factors appear to increase someone’s risk. Age appears to be the strongest risk factor; additional genetic links could play a part; those with immediate family members who have had AMD are at greater risk. Lifestyle habits that restrict retinal oxygen flow such as smoking or high glycemic diets have also been linked with AMD development.

Studies have suggested that laser photocoagulation, an eye procedure in which low-intensity laser light is used to destroy abnormal blood vessels, can slow the progression of wet macular degeneration; however, results have been mixed. To investigate further whether prophylactic laser treatments reduce risk for advanced macular degeneration among those with large drusen deposits (CAPT trial).