Macular degeneration (AMD) is a growing problem that affects more
than 1.75 million Americans and is the leading cause of severe
vision loss for people over the age of 60. Macular degeneration is
the deterioration of the center part of the retina, known as the
macula. The macula is responsible for the sharp, detailed vision
that a person uses for reading, driving, and any task that requires
sharp focus.
AMD rarely causes complete blindness since it does not affect a
person's peripheral vision, but it does create significant vision
impairment. The extent of impairment does vary greatly in patients.
One person may have total loss of their central vision, while
another person may have only a slight distortion of their central
vision. It is commonly referred to as age-related macular
degeneration, or AMD, since it is occurs most frequently in the
older population.
The two main forms of age-related macular degeneration are the dry form and the wet form, with the dry form being the most common. The symptoms of dry AMD occur gradually and the eventual vision loss is typically less severe. It may occur in one or both eyes. If it appears in only one eye, it may take longer to diagnose since the good eye will tend to compensate for the weak eye. Dry macular degeneration occurs when small, yellowish spots called drusen start to form in and around the macula, and within the layers of the retina.
The existence of these spots does not necessarily cause changes in vision but as the spots multiply and increase in size they may cause vision distortion or dimming, most noticeable when reading. Advanced dry macular degeneration can progress and develop into geographic atrophy. This atrophy is the prolonged breakdown of the photoreceptors in the retina and is the primary cause of severe central vision loss. Most people who suffer from the disease are initially diagnosed with the dry form and it can develop into the wet form, but only in about 10% of cases.
At this time, there is no cure for macular degeneration but there are numerous treatment options that can slow down the advancement of the disease and possibly stop severe vision impairment. Some of these options include vitamin supplements, laser therapy, low vision aids, and new drugs that are being researched. Researchers are exploring surgical options but these are still in the early stages of development and are considered experimental. If diagnosed with macular degeneration, it is important that individuals test and check their own vision and see their ophthalmologist regularly.
The two main forms of age-related macular degeneration are the dry form and the wet form, with the dry form being the most common. The symptoms of dry AMD occur gradually and the eventual vision loss is typically less severe. It may occur in one or both eyes. If it appears in only one eye, it may take longer to diagnose since the good eye will tend to compensate for the weak eye. Dry macular degeneration occurs when small, yellowish spots called drusen start to form in and around the macula, and within the layers of the retina.
The existence of these spots does not necessarily cause changes in vision but as the spots multiply and increase in size they may cause vision distortion or dimming, most noticeable when reading. Advanced dry macular degeneration can progress and develop into geographic atrophy. This atrophy is the prolonged breakdown of the photoreceptors in the retina and is the primary cause of severe central vision loss. Most people who suffer from the disease are initially diagnosed with the dry form and it can develop into the wet form, but only in about 10% of cases.
At this time, there is no cure for macular degeneration but there are numerous treatment options that can slow down the advancement of the disease and possibly stop severe vision impairment. Some of these options include vitamin supplements, laser therapy, low vision aids, and new drugs that are being researched. Researchers are exploring surgical options but these are still in the early stages of development and are considered experimental. If diagnosed with macular degeneration, it is important that individuals test and check their own vision and see their ophthalmologist regularly.
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