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 Macular DegenerationWhat is age-related macular degeneration?
In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. Where is the macula?The macula is located in the center of the retina , the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The retina instantly converts light, or an image, into electrical impulses. The retina then sends these impulses, or nerve signals, to the brain. Are there different forms of AMD?AMD occurs in two forms: wet and dry. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula. These new blood vessels tend to be very fragile and often leak blood and fluid. The blood and fluid raise the macula from its normal place at the back of the eye. Damage to the macula occurs rapidly. With wet AMD , loss of central vision can occur quickly. Wet AMD is considered to be advanced AMD and is more severe than the dry form. An early symptom of wet AMD is that straight lines appear wavy. If you notice this condition or other changes to your vision, contact your eye care professional at once. You need a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Dry AMD occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. As dry AMD gets worse, you may see a blurred spot in the center of your vision. Over time, as less of the macula functions, central vision in the affected eye can be lost gradually. The most common symptom of dry AMD is slightly blurred vision. You may have difficulty recognizing faces. You may need more light for reading and other tasks. Dry AMD generally affects both eyes, but vision can be lost in one eye while the other eye seems unaffected. One of the most common early signs of dry AMD is drusen. Drusen are yellow deposits under the retina. They often are found in people over age 60. Your eye care professional can detect drusen during a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Dry AMD has three stages, all of which may occur in one or both eyes:
If you have vision loss from dry AMD in one eye only, you may not notice any changes in your overall vision. With the other eye seeing clearly, you still can drive, read, and see fine details. You may notice changes in your vision only if AMD affects both eyes. If blurriness occurs in your vision, see an eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Do drusen cause vision loss in advanced dry AMD?Drusen alone do not usually cause vision loss. In fact, scientists are unclear about the connection between drusen and AMD. They do know that an increase in the size or number of drusen raises a person's risk of developing either advanced dry AMD or wet AMD . These changes can cause serious vision loss. The dry form has early and intermediate stages. Does the wet form have similar stages?No. The wet form is considered advanced AMD . Can advanced AMD be either the dry form or the wet form?Yes. Both the wet form and the advanced dry form are considered advanced AMD . Vision loss occurs with either form. In most cases, only advanced AMD can cause vision loss. People who have advanced AMD in one eye are at especially high risk of developing advanced AMD in the other eye. Which is more common--the dry form or the wet form?The dry form is much more common. More than 85 percent of all people with intermediate and advanced AMD combined have the dry form. However, if only advanced AMD is considered, about two-thirds of patients have the wet form . Because almost all vision loss comes from advanced AMD , the wet form leads to significantly more vision loss than the dry form . Can the dry form turn into the wet form?Yes. All people who have the wet form had the dry form first. The dry form can advance and cause vision loss without turning into the wet form . The dry form also can suddenly turn into the wet form , even during early stage AMD . There is no way to tell if or when the dry form will turn into the wet form . Who is at risk for AMD?AMD can occur during middle age. The risk increases with aging. Other risk factors include:
How is AMD detected?AMD is detected during a comprehensive eye exam that includes:
Your eye care professional also may do other tests to learn more about the structure and health of your eye. During an eye exam, you may be asked to look at an Amsler grid . The pattern of the grid resembles a checkerboard. You will cover one eye and stare at a black dot in the center of the grid. While staring at the dot, you may notice that the straight lines in the pattern appear wavy. You may notice that some of the lines are missing. These may be signs of AMD. If your eye care professional believes you need treatment for wet AMD , he or she may suggest a fluorescein angiogram . In this test, a special dye is injected into your arm. Pictures are taken as the dye passes through the blood vessels in your retina. The test allows your eye care professional to identify any leaking blood vessels and recommend treatment. |
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that blurs the sharp, central vision you need for "straight-ahead" activities such as reading, sewing, and driving. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. AMD causes no pain.