Macular degeneration or Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a disease that can cause blurring of the central vision of older adults.
AMD is the most common cause of severe loss of eyesight among people 50 years and older. The central part of the retina called the macula is damaged affecting fine central vision. Initially AMD may have no symptoms or signs. In advanced AMD people lose the ability to drive, to see faces and to read smaller print. People very rarely go blind from AMD.
There are two main types of AMD, dry and wet.
Dry AMD is the most common (80% of AMD). Light sensitive cells at the macula slowly break down resulting in a slow and gradual reduction in vision.
Wet AMD is less common, but it usually leads to more severe vision loss. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels start to grow beneath the retina, leaking fluid and blood. A large blind spot in the centre of the visual field can result.
Risk factors for AMD include:
Being over 50
Eating a diet high in saturated fat
Smoking
High blood pressure
Symptoms of AMD include:
Blurry or fuzzy vision
Difficulty recognising familiar faces
Straight lines appear wavy
A dark, empty area or blindspot appears in the centre of your vision
There are currently no treatments available for dry AMD though low-vision devices can be very helpful to perform activities of daily living.
The main treatment of wet AMD is regular intraocular injections of Anti-VEGF medicines which treat the abnormal blood vessels. This can stabilize the vision in many patients and even improve the vision in some patients.
