Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition commonly experienced as people age, typically leading to progressive loss of vision over time. Although AMD cannot be prevented, steps can be taken to slow its progress through eating well, exercising regularly, and not smoking.

Diagnosis

Macular degeneration is an eye disease in which there is gradual breakdown of the central portion of retina (known as macula), leading to blurry, straight-ahead vision. This makes tasks such as threading a needle, driving and reading difficult; also creating dark spots or distortion in central visual fields. Macular degeneration does not lead to total blindness as peripheral vision remains undamaged by remaining intact.

Dry age-related macular degeneration, often referred to as dry ARMD, is marked by yellow deposits called drusen on the retina that can be identified during a comprehensive dilated eye exam as early, intermediate, or advanced dry ARMD.

Early stages of dry ARMD tend not to be noticeable to patients and only produce mild blurriness or haziness in vision, though if left undiagnosed and treated promptly can progress to more serious levels, including difficulty with facial or color recognition, progressive worsening of central vision haze and distortion of straight lines.

Wet macular degeneration is characterized by abnormal blood vessels under the retina that leak fluid and damage the macula, ultimately leading to central vision loss more rapidly than in its dry form. Diagnosing wet macular degeneration typically requires a fundus exam as well as additional testing such as OCT scan or Fluorescein and ICG angiography.

There is no cure for wet macular degeneration, but certain medications have been proven to halt its progression by slowing the formation of new blood vessels under the retina. These drugs include bevacizumab, ranibizumab, pegaptanib and aflibercept, which should be injected four-weekly into each eye in order to stop leaky blood vessel formation and protect vision loss. Early detection is crucial when dealing with any form of macular degeneration – regular eye exams (even when your eyes appear healthy) are vital ways of doing just this.