Age-related macular degeneration deteriorates the central portion of the retina known as the macula, responsible for straight ahead vision as well as seeing fine details and colors clearly.

Progress of macular degeneration typically progresses slowly; however, 10-15 percent of cases develop abnormal blood vessels under the retina that lead to bleeding and fluid leakage.

Dry Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Macular degeneration is a condition affecting the macula, a small area at the back of your eye that’s responsible for central vision – our sharp straight ahead view that allows us to drive, read and see fine details in objects. Macular degeneration symptoms range from minor blurring or distortion in central vision up to complete blindness in later stages.

Age is the main risk factor for macular degeneration (AMD); however, other risk factors, including family history of AMD, smoking and high blood pressure, can all play a part. A healthy diet with regular physical activity and not smoking can help to lower chances of AMD development; additionally it’s essential to check-in regularly with an ophthalmologist so they can monitor progression and recommend specific vitamin supplements tailored specifically to you.

AMD comes in two forms, dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration is the more prevalent of the two forms and occurs when protein deposits called drusen begin to form beneath the macula when it thins over time. Unfortunately, its progression can often go undetected unless patients receive regular comprehensive eye exams.

As the disease advances and drusen multiply, wet macular degeneration becomes much more serious. This condition occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and begin leaking blood and fluid, causing sudden loss of central vision as well as hastening progression of disease.

People suffering from wet AMD may notice dark spots or distortion in their central vision or difficulty seeing in low light. Although early stages of wet macular degeneration are typically painless, if left untreated it can eventually lead to severe vision loss. Wet AMD can be diagnosed during a comprehensive eye exam by an ophthalmologist using fluorescein angiography – this involves injecting yellow dye through veins in your arm into retinal blood vessels before being captured on camera by a camera.

Early Detection

The macula is a small area at the back of your eye that enables you to see fine details clearly and carry out activities such as driving and reading. When this area fails, however, you can experience blurriness, dark areas or distortion in your central vision. Although macular degeneration reduces central vision significantly, it typically does not impact side (peripheral) vision or your ability to detect colors and details; meaning you’ll still be able to use peripheral vision for daily tasks like walking around your home or going shopping.

While there is no cure for dry macular degeneration, early diagnosis and treatment can reduce severe vision loss by slowing its progress. There are various ways to identify it including an eye exam with dilation, Amsler grid assessment or fluorescein angiography test.

Anti-angiogenesis drugs offer another method for treating macular degeneration. When administered directly into the eye, these anti-angiogenesis agents work by blocking specific proteins that lead to new blood vessel growth under the retina. Anti-angiogenesis agents may also help treat other eye diseases like diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusion and diabetic retinopathy as they work by stopping new vessels from forming under it.

Bevacizumab, ranibizumab and pegaptanib are currently approved by FDA to treat wet AMD. These injections should ideally be given two to four times per year to maximize results.

Researchers continue to work toward treatments that can restore vision in those living with wet macular degeneration, but also developing ways to prevent its progression in the first place. One team led by UConn scientists is creating a fluorescent small molecule imaging reagent designed to detect preclinical stages of Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV), the main cause of vision loss associated with wet AMD. This technology could allow physicians to diagnose patients more quickly.

Early Treatment

Gradual loss of central vision results from macular degeneration. This condition affects the macula in the back of the eye that allows individuals to perceive fine details and straight ahead; its degeneration leads to blurred or distorted central vision; however, usually does not lead to complete blindness. But age-related macular degeneration may interfere with reading, driving and other activities that rely on central vision; it can reduce ability to distinguish colors and detect faces; peripheral (side) vision is usually unaffected. Two forms of age-related macular degeneration exist: dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration is the more prevalent form and is identified by yellow deposits known as drusen, which do not lead to vision loss but instead signal an increased risk for wet forms of macular degeneration.

Wet AMD is characterized by abnormal, leaking blood vessels growing under the macula that leak or bleed fluid, leading to rapid and severe loss of straight-ahead vision, disturbance of color perception and depth perception, or distortions that cause objects to appear crooked or disjointed. Wet AMD accounts for 10% of macular degeneration cases overall and is considered more severe than its dry form counterpart.

Wet macular degeneration symptoms may be more subtle than those associated with dry AMD, and may take time to appear. People living with wet AMD often observe straight lines – such as door frames and windows – appearing wavy or crooked; they may have difficulty with tasks requiring straight forward vision, such as driving or reading, yet will usually maintain peripheral vision.

At this point, there are no treatments that can reverse or cure wet macular degeneration; however there are options that may slow its progression. One is nutritional intervention using antioxidant vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and E and carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin found in foods such as leafy green vegetables, berries, oranges and dark chocolate; alternatively supplements containing these nutrients may be available as well.

Surgical Treatment

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition that gradually destroys sharp, central vision, while leaving side (peripheral) vision unaffected. Symptoms range from blurry central vision and seeing washed-out colors to blind spots appearing at the centre of one’s field of view. Though macular degeneration cannot be reversed, early diagnosis and treatment can slow its progress to allow patients to maintain quality lives with limited vision loss.

Macular degeneration is typically marked by abnormal yellow deposits called “drusen”, which appear under the retina and indicate dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Drusen can help diagnose its severity. Since dry AMD progresses slowly and can be treated effectively using high dose antioxidants and zinc formulations, treatment with them helps slow sight deterioration while potentially delaying future wet form macular degeneration episodes.

The wet form of AMD is caused by abnormal, leaking blood vessels forming beneath the retina and leading to rapid loss of straight-ahead (straight-ahead) vision, distortion in straight lines and reduced color vision. Although less prevalent than its dry counterpart, wet AMD remains very serious indeed.

At present, there are multiple anti-VEGF agents that can be injected directly into the eye to inhibit the formation of new abnormal blood vessels that cause wet macular degeneration. These injections should be given on a regular basis and 90% of patients can either stabilize their vision or show improvement from this treatment approach.

Observing any sudden changes in your vision requires immediate medical intervention, so if any noticeable variations arise it’s wise to contact an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. A simple test using black lines arranged in an Amsler Grid chart may reveal macular degeneration while additional tests such as OCT angiography and fluorescein angiography can identify abnormal blood vessels associated with wet ARMD; regular appointments and testing is key in maintaining optimal vision health.