Age-related macular degeneration can progress to its more serious wet form when abnormal blood vessels leak fluid under the retina, damaging central and detailed vision rapidly, with straight lines appearing wavy or dark areas appearing at the center of your visual field.

1. Abnormal Blood Vessels Under the Retina

When wet macular degeneration strikes, abnormal blood vessels form from beneath the retina called choroid and begin leaking fluid or blood beneath it, blurring or distorting central vision quickly and irreparably. While dry macular degeneration occurs at a much slower pace than its wet counterpart.

Leakage from abnormal blood vessels usually originates in small branches of the central retinal vein that run through the macula, as these blood vessels tend to be less stable than healthy cells within it and more prone to bleeding or leaking than their counterparts in healthy macular tissue cells. Thus they form lesions leading to wet macular degeneration.

Leakage of fluid or blood can dislodge the macula from its position at the back of the eye, known as vitreomacular traction (VMT), leading to permanent vision loss. Fluid may also leak due to blockages in main retinal arteries providing blood to retina, known as central retinal vascular occlusion (CRAO).

Ophthalmologists can use optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans to detect retinal clots that form and treat them through laser photocoagulation therapy, effectively protecting vision loss from occurring. If these clots do form, an OCT scan can identify them quickly before being treated using laser photocoagulation therapy.

Unless ophthalmologists can prevent the growth of abnormal blood vessels, wet macular degeneration will progress into its more advanced form: progressive macular degeneration. This leads to rapid and severe loss of central and detailed vision. Symptoms may include sudden loss of central vision; dark spots appearing centrally; straight lines becoming wavy or curled, as well as blind spots within one’s field of vision.

People suffering from wet macular degeneration must carefully track their central or detailed vision with an Amsler Grid chart, noting any changes immediately if any arise. Without treatment, this condition can quickly progress into legal blindness.

Once wet macular degeneration has been detected early on, ophthalmologists may be able to slow or stop its progression by injecting medication that causes new blood vessels to close off or recede – this procedure has proven highly successful, with most patients stabilizing or even improving their vision after receiving treatment. If you suspect wet macular degeneration may be impacting your vision, contact Signature Retina Consultants of Braidwood’s Sumit Bhatia MD immediately for evaluation – contact them now so we can arrange an evaluation appointment and care – our highly experienced doctors have experience caring for patients suffering from various retinal conditions.

2. Leakage of Fluid or Blood from Abnormal Blood Vessels

Fluid leakage from abnormal blood vessels may result in distortion or blurriness to vision, as well as sudden loss of central vision in one eye. Central vision allows you to see fine details like letters and faces; wet macular degeneration typically only affects this aspect of vision; your peripheral or side vision should remain clear. If you suspect wet macular degeneration may affect you, be sure to visit your eye doctor regularly and report any changes in vision immediately.

Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV), where abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina, can result in distortion or blurry vision due to blood leakage from abnormal vessels that bleed out under it and leak fluid underneath the retina, as well as hinder retinal cell function, leading to central vision loss resulting in loss. CNV can lead to permanent vision loss.

Wet macular degeneration typically manifests itself with sudden blurring or dark areas in the center of your vision, such as straight lines appearing wavy or colors being muted. An ophthalmologist may perform certain tests to diagnose wet macular degeneration; for instance, injecting an orange-red dye into your arm and taking pictures as it travels through blood vessels in your macula; other diagnostic tools include MRI or fluorescein angiography.

Your ophthalmologist may suggest taking vitamins and mineral supplements, including antioxidants that protect the eye from free radical damage, in addition to eating plenty of fruits and vegetables rich in lutein and zeaxanthin; this nutrient can be found mainly in green leafy vegetables, yellow and orange fruit/vegetables as well as nuts.

If you suffer from wet macular degeneration, an ophthalmologist may suggest laser treatment as one way of improving vision. This procedure destroys abnormal blood vessels and stops fluid leakage from macula to improve your vision. There are other therapies being tested which have shown promise in slowing further vision loss or in some cases even improving it.

As soon as wet macular degeneration is detected and treated early, your chances of maintaining some or all of your central vision improve drastically. At Signature Retina Consultants, we can discuss various treatment options available for wet macular degeneration based on individual needs and offer fast recovery periods with most procedures. Call or visit online now to make an appointment; we look forward to meeting you!

3. Damage to the Macula

The macula is a small area of your retina that enables you to see fine details clearly. This area of sight is essential for tasks that require central vision such as reading, driving and recognising faces; macular degeneration hinders this task as it blurs central vision; however it does not impact side vision at all.

Wet macular degeneration (sometimes referred to as Neovascular AMD or Exudative Macular Degeneration) is caused by abnormally growing blood vessels beneath the retina, leading to fluid or blood leakage below the macula, damaging photoreceptors and leading to rapid vision loss. Over time, damage causes macula to bulge up from its normal position at the back of eye and eventually result in severe central vision loss, sometimes irreversibly so.

Macular degeneration occurs more rarely than its dry form, yet is far more dangerous as it progresses more quickly. Your doctor can diagnose wet macular degeneration through conducting a comprehensive dilated exam of both eyes; an Amsler grid may also help identify distortion in central vision. Sometimes your doctor may need to inject harmless yellow dye into one vein in your arm before photographing retina as it moves through its blood vessels – a test known as fluorescein angiography.

Your doctor may be able to slow or stop wet macular degeneration with laser surgery, medication and dietary supplements tailored specifically for you. Your physician will recommend an approach tailored to meet the unique circumstances of each situation.

Macular degeneration is an age-related eye disease that slowly diminishes your ability to see fine detail, making driving, reading and other everyday tasks harder for those over 60 living in developed nations. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible blindness among this group of people and its severity increases with age – one reason it leads to irreversible blindness as people get older.

An annual dilated eye exam can lower your risk of macular degeneration significantly if you are aged over 60. Leading a healthy lifestyle including diet and exercise will also reduce risk. Speaking to your physician about photodynamic therapy may also slow its progress while improving vision.