Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the gradual deterioration or breakdown of the macula, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye that senses light. Over time it leads to gradual loss of central vision but doesn’t impact peripheral (side) vision as much.

Dry AMD is the most prevalent form of macular degeneration and involves thinning of the macula and yellow deposits known as drusen.

Blurred or distorted vision.

The macula of the retina houses millions of light-sensing cells that, when damaged or beginning to degenerate, cause blurry or distorted vision and make reading, driving and recognising faces difficult – although those affected usually still possess sufficient peripheral vision to perform daily activities such as driving.

Macular degeneration typically manifests itself gradually with blurred or distorted vision; however, some individuals may experience sudden central vision loss without warning. The presence of deposits underneath the retina called drusen, visible when examined through dilation; when these spots become larger over time this indicates advanced AMD.

At this stage, your macula begins to weaken and macular degeneration transitions to dry form, making an early onset inevitable. While wet form macular degeneration occurs less often, when abnormal blood vessels form under your macula and leak fluid or blood. An angiography test can detect it by injecting dye into an arm vein before taking photos as it passes through your retinal blood vessels – another noninvasive option would be optical coherence tomography (OCT) which detects leakage without needing dye injection – while optical coherence tomography (OCT) detects leakage with or without dye injection.

In the wet form of macular degeneration, distortions may worsen and sudden central vision loss may occur. If this happens to you, seek medical assistance immediately for a dilated eye exam so your eye doctor can confirm whether it’s wet form macular degeneration.

Be sure to schedule an eye appointment as soon as you detect blurry or distorted vision, as early treatment could prevent further progression and slow the decline in central vision. When calling, describe the nature of your symptoms in order to set up an appointment time that best meets them.

Halos around lights.

Normal eye function involves light falling onto the retina creating images which are then processed by the brain via the optic nerve. When macular degeneration damages its macula, however, these images may no longer be seen clearly by your brain and this can cause vision problems like halos around lights or blurred or distorted vision.

As people age, it becomes more important than ever to monitor eye health so as to recognize any warning signs early and prevent progression of disease that could potentially reduce quality of life or result in serious medical complications.

Blurred or distorted vision may be caused by any number of medical conditions, including glaucoma and cataracts. Both conditions cause pressure build-up within the eye which damages optic nerve and eventually leads to permanent blindness. Some patients experience gradual narrowing in their field of vision while others notice symptoms suddenly.

Glaucoma may take many forms, most often manifesting as progressive loss of peripheral vision. Acute angle-closure glaucoma differs by suddenly increasing eye pressure which can result in sudden vision loss as well as pain, nausea and headache. In such an emergency scenario, immediate treatment should include medication or surgery to decrease eye pressure levels as soon as possible.

Astigmatism is another prevalent cause of blurred or distorted vision. Astigmatism is a refractive error which prevents the eyes from focusing clearly at all distances – close or far. Astigmatism can be corrected using eyeglasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery.

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is the leading cause of blindness among those over 60. Early symptoms may include needing more lighting when reading, blurriness in central vision and distortion of straight lines.

An eye exam can detect other visual problems, including loss of facial or color recognition, difficulty adapting to low lighting environments, ringed lights or colors appearing faded or yellowish – all telltale indicators that it may be time for an extensive dilated exam.

Difficulty reading.

Macular degeneration affects the central part of our retinas called the macula, which allows us to see straight ahead, read, drive safely, recognize faces and colors, perform other vital tasks and perform other essential functions. When macular degeneration takes hold, these tasks become much harder or even impossible due to losing central vision despite maintaining peripheral vision; advanced macular degeneration might even cause lines on signs or books to appear crooked or wavy.

Macular degeneration is a gradual process, so symptoms may develop over time. Initial warning signs usually include blurriness in your central vision. Straight objects like telephone poles or venetian blinds might appear wavy or crooked as straightness changes; later on you might even detect black spots or dark areas within your vision; symptoms may come and go so it is important to keep track of any changes and inform your doctor immediately of any developments.

Macular degeneration occurs in two forms: Dry AMD and Wet AMD. Most people suffer from the former form, in which deposits known as drusen build up under the retina leading to macular thinning over time. Wet AMD, on the other hand, occurs more rapidly. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels form underneath retina that leak blood or fluid into macula. You can identify your wet AMD by taking part in fundus fluorescein angiography test which involves injecting harmless orange-red dye into arm before taking photographs of retina for 8-10 days post injection that identify any leaky new choroidal blood vessels that contributes towards wet macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration cannot be cured, but medications and supplements such as vitamins C, E, lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc may help slow its progress and limit further vision loss. Seek medical assistance immediately if sudden vision changes arise – it could save your eyesight!

Loss of central vision.

Macular degeneration causes you to lose the center of your vision, as light-sensitive retina tissue in your macula gradually deteriorates with age, leading to blurred or distorted visuals and the development of dark spots or empty areas in your center of vision. Although central vision will be impaired, side or peripheral vision should remain unaffected.

Macular degeneration comes in two main varieties, Dry Macular Degeneration and Wet Macular Degeneration. Of those suffering macular degeneration, most have Dry Macular Degeneration; its most prevalent form is when tiny yellow or white deposits known as Drusen form under the retina and gradually grow larger over time, eventually leading to macular thinning and stoppage of function. Wet Macular Degeneration occurs less commonly and occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina that leak fluid or blood into central vision, blurring or distorting central vision altogether.

Macular degeneration affects both dry and wet forms, with both leading to permanent loss of central vision. However, it should be remembered that macular degeneration rarely causes total blindness; you can still rely on peripheral vision as an aid and still lead an independent life despite advanced forms.

If you suspect macular degeneration, it is imperative that you schedule an appointment with an eye doctor immediately. They can examine your eyes with various instruments and run tests with an Amsler grid which measures central vision. They may also suggest fundus fluorescein angiography which uses harmless orange-red dye to detect leakage under retina related to wet macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration cannot fully reverse your loss of central vision; however, low-vision devices may help maximize what sight remains. Furthermore, macular degeneration will eventually reach the point where improvement no longer becomes an option.