Macular degeneration (AMD), also known as age-related macular degeneration, occurs when damage to your central vision occurs. It typically affects part of your retina called the macula and does not impact peripheral or side vision.

There are two forms of macular degeneration – dry and wet. In the former case, deposits called drusen form beneath the retina while new blood vessels grow and leak fluid into the eye causing wet macular degeneration (ARMD).

Blurred Vision

Blurry vision is one of the hallmark symptoms of macular degeneration and one of the more frequently experienced side effects. The condition affects the central part of your retina which enables fine details and straight ahead vision; however, this rarely impacts peripheral (side) vision so objects around you remain clear.

Blurry vision can be the telltale sign of macular degeneration in both dry and wet forms of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Eighty five to ninety percent of cases involve the dry form, where yellow deposits beneath the retina known as drusen slowly accumulate over time and lead to central vision loss over time.

Around 10 percent of ARMD cases fall into the wet form, in which abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and leak fluid or blood into the macula through leaky capillaries known as choroidal neovascularization or CNV. This wet form is more severe than its dry counterpart and can quickly lead to central vision loss.

No matter which form of ARMD you have, blurry vision may be one of the first indicators of its presence, often followed by other symptoms like distortion of straight lines, dark spots in the visual field or increased need for brighter lighting to read or see objects clearly.

Macular degeneration isn’t the only condition that can cause blurry vision; other causes include dry eyes and injuries to your eye(s), infections such as conjunctivitis or even inflammatory diseases like glaucoma can all have an impact. Any sudden appearance of blurry vision should be evaluated immediately by healthcare providers as this could indicate medical emergency.

Difficulty Reading

Reading difficulty is one of the hallmarks of macular degeneration. This occurs as the macula begins to thin and weaken, leading to blurred central vision in both eyes. People may require brighter lighting for reading or other tasks; colors become less vivid; similar-colored objects merge together more readily; this makes recognizing faces difficult; moreover, similar shades merge together more readily than before resulting in difficulty differentiating objects from one another.

Macular degeneration can make straight lines appear wavy or bent – a telltale sign of wet macular degeneration, which is more serious than its dry form and may lead to the rapid and severe loss of central vision if left untreated.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina in the back of the eye and leak fluid or blood, distorting central vision. Treatment includes laser therapy or medications which stop new vessels from growing while simultaneously stopping any leakage of fluid or blood from existing ones.

Regular dilated eye exams are essential to early detection of macular degeneration. A dilated examination can detect tiny yellow deposits known as drusen that form under the retina and reveal early warning signs. Macular degeneration begins as an age-related macular degeneration disease and begins manifesting itself through small dots called “drusen,” but as they grow larger and become more numerous they indicate its progress. Eye specialists may use fluorescein angiography or optical coherence tomography (OCT) tests to detect wet macular degeneration by injecting dye into veins and taking photographs as it moves past blood vessels on the retina. An ophthalmologist may also detect wet macular degeneration by inspecting retina cross sections and looking for signs of fluid build up or abnormal blood vessels which lead to this condition.

Difficulty Seeing in Low Light

If you are having difficulty seeing in low light environments or are noticing that straight lines appear crooked or wavered, this could be early indicators of macular degeneration – the leading cause of vision loss among those over 50. Macular degeneration is a progressive eye disease which attacks the macula in your retina – which controls central vision functions such as seeing details such as fine details, colors and faces.

Macular degeneration comes in two varieties – dry and wet. Over 85% of patients suffering from macular degeneration have the former form where deposits of yellow protein called drusen begin to build up under their macula, but wet macular degeneration is far more serious as abnormal blood vessels grow and leak fluid or blood underneath retina causing macula scarring that leads to rapid vision loss without treatment.

An annual eye exam is the best way to detect macular degeneration early. Our eye doctors use cutting-edge technology and can check for symptoms like blurry or dimly lit central vision, distortion in straight lines or difficulty distinguishing shapes or colors. They may also use an Amsler grid of black lines arranged in specific patterns as an indicator of how well your central vision is functioning.

If your family history includes macular degeneration, it is especially essential that you visit our eye doctor on an ongoing basis. Our ophthalmologists can prescribe special eye vitamins and monitor your progress to slow the progress of macular degeneration. Injections or laser treatment of abnormal blood vessels that lead to wet macular degeneration may also be available.

Difficulty Seeing Straight Lines

As macular degeneration progresses, central vision may become distorted or blurry due to light-sensing cells dying off and leaving an eye with an undulated or crooked appearance. Therefore, people suffering from macular degeneration should visit an ophthalmologist regularly in order to detect early symptoms – this may involve viewing an Amsler grid chart of black lines arranged grid style or having retinal scan.

Macular degeneration does not lead to complete blindness; peripheral vision typically remains intact. But living without central vision as the disease advances can be challenging and stressful. Lifestyle changes, vitamin supplements and low vision devices may help alleviate symptoms associated with macular degeneration.

Only a minority of macular degeneration cases progress into wet macular degeneration, which can result in rapid and extensive vision loss compared to dry forms of macular degeneration. Wet forms develop when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina which leak fluid or blood, leading to central vision loss; this process is known as choroidal neovascularization or CNV.

People can lower their risk of macular degeneration by following healthy practices such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating diets high in fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, and not smoking. Furthermore, managing other medical conditions, like cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure that contribute to macular degeneration is also key – regular eye exams will also reduce chances of macular degeneration or any other health problems developing in future.

Difficulty Seeing Shapes

Macular degeneration often manifests itself in difficulty seeing shapes. This occurs because central vision loss makes objects appear blurred or distorted; peripheral and side-vision may still function, however if your ability to differentiate shapes has diminished it could be an early warning sign of AMD.

Macular degeneration develops gradually over time and is typically classified either as dry (atrophic) or wet (exudative). Dry macular degeneration is marked by tiny yellow deposits called drusen under the retina that gradually become larger, breaking down light-sensitive cells in the macula and gradually leading to central vision loss. Since many individuals do not experience symptoms at an early or intermediate stage of dry macular degeneration, regular dilated eye exams are essential in detecting changes within your macula.

Wet macular degeneration may be less prevalent than its dry counterpart, yet can result in faster and more noticeable vision loss. Its hallmarks are abnormal blood vessel growth underneath the retina that leak fluid or even bleed, creating blurring or distortion to central vision.

If you have been diagnosed with wet macular degeneration, an ophthalmologist will likely suggest treatments to slow its progression. These may include vitamins and supplements containing lutein and zeaxanthin as well as zinc and copper; eating foods rich in these antioxidants is also recommended to increase their effectiveness and delay advanced stages. In certain instances photodynamic therapy laser procedure may also help reduce new blood vessels while stopping fluid leakage under retina.