Macular degeneration causes central vision to fade – which allows you to read, drive, see faces and recognize colors – but does not impair peripheral or side vision.

AMD, or Age-Related Macular Degeneration, is one of the primary causes of blindness among people over 60 and occurs when light-sensitive cells in the macula start to deteriorate. Your doctor can test for early signs by administering eye drops that dilate (enlarge) your pupils to detect AMD early signs.

Blurred vision

Macular degeneration refers to any breakdown or deterioration of the macula, an area at the back of your eye which allows you to clearly see fine details when reading and driving, such as reading text books. When this area doesn’t function as it should, central vision becomes blurry while you may experience dark areas or distortion; this typically does not affect peripheral or side vision however. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss among those over 60; regular eye exams and new treatments can slow its progression significantly.

Blurry vision is one of the first indicators of macular degeneration, as it indicates less light-sensing cells are functioning correctly in your macula. Over time, you may notice straight lines seem wavy and objects appear as though they’re closer than expected. Distorted vision may even cause you to hit into objects you hadn’t noticed previously or trip over obstacles you never saw coming!

Both dry and wet macular degeneration can result in blurred vision, yet their progression differs considerably. Dry macular degeneration is more commonly found, as tiny yellow protein deposits known as drusen form beneath the macula and damage retinal pigment epithelial layer; leading to central vision becoming blurry or even distorted.

Wet macular degeneration is less prevalent but more severe. Here, abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina and start leaking fluid or blood into it – distorting central vision and creating permanent blind spots in your field of view.

Difficulty seeing in low light

Macular degeneration, the leading cause of severe vision loss among those over 60, affects the macula responsible for central vision and can make seeing in dim lighting difficult. Over time, symptoms worsen until complete blindness sets in; thankfully there are treatments available that slow its progress.

Macular degeneration occurs gradually and you may not notice any symptoms in its early stages. Your doctor can detect changes to your eyesight by conducting an eye exam that includes looking for tiny deposits called “drusen,” consisting of yellow clumps of protein that grow over time to break down light-sensitive cells in your retina and cause vision impairment. Most often these deposits don’t pose any significant threat and can even be treated using medication.

The intermediate phase of AMD is marked by blurred vision. Your eye doctor might notice a wavy line pattern on an Amsler grid chart – an indicator of wet macular degeneration – when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the macula and leak fluid into it, blurring central vision.

It is crucial that if you experience any of these symptoms to seek medical advice immediately. Early detection increases chances of successful macular degeneration treatment with new solutions like photodynamic therapy and focal laser treatment that could prevent loss of central vision in macular degeneration patients.

Difficulty reading

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can make reading a challenging task, as its progress erodes a portion of retina known as the macula responsible for sharp central vision. Luckily, however, AMD doesn’t impair peripheral (side) vision as much, meaning those living with AMD can still drive and navigate their homes normally – however they may need to keep books, newspapers or computer/phone screens further from their eyes in order to see clearly.

This symptom can also make it challenging to recognize faces, particularly close up or in profile, due to damaged macular tissue no longer distinguishing details of expression on faces, making it more difficult to tell whether someone is upset or happy. As eye disease advances further this problem can worsen over time and become accompanied by decreased color vision causing colors to seem duller and similar shades to appear similar.

Macular degeneration occurs in two forms, wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration. Over 85% of cases fall under the dry form, in which yellow protein clumps called drusen form slowly under the macula and gradually build up over time. Meanwhile, wet form occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath retina and begin leaking fluid or blood leading to visual loss and severe visual loss. While no treatment exists yet for wet form ARMD patients in its early stages may benefit from photodynamic therapy or photocoagulation which may slow its progress while improving vision overall.

Difficulty recognizing faces

People living with AMD often struggle to recognize faces. This is due to AMD degeneration affecting the central portion of your retina which controls central vision as well as color perception and fine details – when this region degenerates it becomes difficult for reading, driving and recognising faces – fortunately only an early sign of macular degeneration!

Macular degeneration’s early signs include difficulty seeing in dim light. Adjusting to dimly lit environments becomes increasingly essential as macular degeneration progresses, yet traveling between bright and dimly lit places may present difficulty for patients who must rely on sight alone for navigation, leading to trips or falls among older individuals.

Dry and wet aging-related macular degeneration both cause distortion of shapes, but wet macular degeneration is more likely to result in complete blindness. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and leak fluid or blood into it causing macula elevation off of its position behind your eyeball. Ten percent of cases of ARMD develop wet macular degeneration causing 90% of severe visual loss from this disease.

Macular degeneration often goes undetected until it worsens, yet an eye exam may catch early symptoms like blurred vision or dark areas near the center of your vision. Your doctor may use an Amsler grid as part of their examination; this checkerboard of straight lines helps detect distortion in shapes that indicate macular degeneration if straight lines seem wavy – this could indicate wet form macular degeneration.

Difficulty recognizing objects

Macular degeneration affects the central portion of an eye’s retina known as the macula, making it hard to see straight ahead. Additionally, this condition may make objects appear blurry and hazy. Visit your doctor regularly for eye exams in order to detect early signs of macular degeneration. They may take pictures of your retina with an imaging procedure called angiography or optical coherence tomography (OCT). An angiography involves your doctor injecting dye into a vein in your arm and taking photographs as the dye passes by blood vessels in the retina, allowing them to identify whether new blood vessels are growing and leaking fluid and blood into the macula area. OCT technology also can detect any fluid under the retina without using dye as evidence.

Macular degeneration usually progresses slowly; however, around 10% of individuals may develop wet macular degeneration; in such instances, distortion may become more noticeable and rapid vision loss may ensue. Either way, it is essential that medical help be sought immediately in both instances.

Macular degeneration often causes colors to no longer seem as vivid or lively. This may cause bright hues to look muted or make distinguishing between similar hues difficult. Furthermore, people may have trouble reading or driving in low light environments – which could potentially be fatally dangerous!

Macular degeneration often affects only one eye at once; however, the disease can spread between both. At its worst, macular degeneration can result in detached retinas leading to complete blindness in affected areas. Aging plays a large role in macular degeneration; typically when central retinal parts deteriorate with age.