Macular degeneration occurs when the central part of your retina, known as the macula, breaks down, resulting in blurry and straight-ahead vision. Additionally, this may create blind spots within your visual field.

Macular degeneration is a progressive condition, but you can delay its progress with treatment options such as vitamins, anti-angiogenic medication and photodynamic therapy.

Dry Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a breakdown in the retina that transmits visual signals through your optic nerve to your brain and disrupts reading, driving and recognising faces – often the macula. Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss and legal blindness among older people and can often start without symptoms in its initial stages; later it may present with distortion of straight lines and missing portions of visual field as it progresses further. If you are at risk for macular degeneration it is vitally important to see your eye doctor regularly as regular dilated eye exams can detect and treatable disease early enough.

Macular degeneration comes in two varieties: dry and wet. Roughly 85% of macular degeneration cases start as dry macular degeneration; when small deposits known as drusen form under the retina and cause it to thin over time. This form usually does not lead to severe vision loss. Wet AMD, on the other hand, is less common but more severe; its development involves abnormal blood vessels growing under the retina that leak fluid or blood; this eventually results in scarring of retina and rapid vision loss.

Macular degeneration treatments exist that can effectively prevent or delay severe vision loss and significantly slow its rate of decline. Most macular degeneration treatments work by inhibiting abnormal new blood vessels forming underneath the retina in wet macular degeneration; specifically blocking an enzyme called vascular endothelial growth factor which promotes this growth of abnormal vessels under retina. Common treatments include anti-VEGF medications injected directly into eyeball or photodynamic therapy using photosensitizing agents combined with laser light to destroy new blood vessels that form.

Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (DRDMD)

Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss among those aged 60 or over, damaging the central portion of retina (known as macular) and making reading, driving or performing other tasks that require clear vision difficult. Macular degeneration also makes distinguishing colors or seeing fine details difficult – researchers don’t yet understand exactly why this happens but believe gene mutations and age may play a part.

Macular degeneration comes in two varieties, dry and wet. Around 85%-90% of patients suffer from dry macular degeneration, which results in gradual central vision loss due to macular tissue thinning and retinal drusen deposits visible during dilated eye exams. Unfortunately, no cure exists for dry ARMD; however, high dose formulations of antioxidants and zinc could potentially slow its progression; also being tested are anti-angiogenic drugs which block proteins responsible for abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage as a potential treatment measure; new anti-angiogenic drugs designed to block proteins that promote abnormal blood vessel growth are being evaluated for their potential role in slowing the progression of macular degeneration.

Wet macular degeneration (ARMD) is much less common and is characterized by sudden and rapid vision loss. This condition occurs as abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina that leak blood and fluid into blind spots in the central area of vision, creating blind spots. Patients suffering from wet ARMD should immediately seek medical advice if they notice sudden vision changes such as blurry central vision, decreased intensity of colors or visual distortions such as straight lines appearing bent or crookedness; regular dilated eye exams performed by an experienced ophthalmologist such as Dr. Beth Bruening are invaluable tools in early detection of such changes; regular eye exams conducted by experienced professionals such as Dr. Beth Bruening will allow early diagnosis of any changes that might arise and allow early diagnosis if necessary.

Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration (IAMD)

The macula, located at the center of your retina, allows patients to see straight ahead and focus on details. Due to age-related macular degeneration, however, this area starts deteriorating over time, leading to blurred vision in its wake – making this condition one of the leading causes of vision loss in those over 55. Cataracts or glaucoma affect fewer people.

Macular degeneration comes in two main varieties, known as dry AMD and wet AMD. Dry AMD is more prevalent and does not progress as quickly than its counterpart; with wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina which cause leakage of blood and fluid into the macula’s area of function, impeding its proper functioning. To detect wet AMD early and treat effectively requires regular eye exams with additional diagnostic testing such as OCT scans or Fluorescein angiography scans.

While neither dry or wet forms of AMD offer a cure, many patients can continue living a normal life by driving, working, reading and enjoying family and friends as normal. If any changes to your central vision such as blind spots or straight lines that appear wavy appear it is vitally important that you seek medical advice immediately.

For patients suffering from wet AMD, there are medications available that can stabilize and even improve vision. These VEGF inhibitors, when administered subcutaneously into the eye, help counteract abnormal blood vessel growth that contributes to wet macular degeneration. Most patients report stabilizing vision after one to two years using this treatment; 30% actually see improvement within that same timeframe.

Late Age-Related Macular Degeneration (LAMD)

The macula is responsible for central vision and any breakdown can lead to blurry or missing areas of visual field, making reading, driving and recognising faces more challenging, color perception and distinguishing details being impaired and it being one of the leading causes of legal blindness in America – but luckily it can be treated successfully; certain medications and treatments slow its progression and help individuals maintain their vision longer.

Macular degeneration’s late stages involve the growth of yellow pigment deposits known as drusen that obscure the retina, leading to gradual vision loss. While no visible sign may exist of this condition without an eye examination, patients will notice an inexorable decrease in close up vision while their peripheral vision still provides ample function such as driving or cooking tasks.

Macular degeneration cases fall into two main categories; dry form (85%-90% of cases) and wet form (10-15%). While the latter form is less prevalent, its symptoms can cause sudden vision loss due to blood vessels forming beneath the retina and releasing fluid, distorting central vision and making straight lines appear bent or wavy.

Wet macular degeneration can be treated using several procedures, including photodynamic therapy or laser treatment to destroy abnormal blood vessels that proliferate beneath the retina. Anti-angiogenic drugs (Macugen, Avastin and Lucentis) may also be taken by injection to inhibit proteins which stimulate new vessel formation. When combined with laser photocoagulation treatments they have proven to significantly improve vision in some patients.

Retinal Vascularization

Eighty-five to ninety percent of cases of ARMD fall under the category of dry macular degeneration, where deposits known as drusen form slowly behind the retina in the central portion of the eye (known as the macula). Central vision allows people to read, drive and recognize faces and colors; conversely ten to fifteen percent develop wet form; abnormal blood vessels develop beneath retina that leak fluid underneath, leading to central vision decline – this causes 90% of severe visual loss associated with macular degeneration.

Wet macular degeneration symptoms include distortion of your direct line of sight and difficulty seeing straight ahead, an inability to adapt to low light conditions, changes in color perception or facial expression recognition and difficulty reading facial features or text. This occurs due to abnormal blood vessels growing under your retina that leak fluid into the macular area causing swelling and distortion in central vision.

Current treatments cannot fully restore central vision lost from wet macular degeneration; however, researchers have been successful in slowing its progression by injecting anti-VEGF agents directly into the eye. These medications, known as anti-VEGF agents, inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor protein production that stimulates abnormal blood vessel growth under retina. They are delivered through small ports implanted into eyes with reservoirs that slowly release medication over time.

Photodynamic therapy and surgery are currently under investigation as macular degeneration treatments.