![]() ![]() In order to catch AMD as soon as possible, it’s important to see an eye doctor once a year for a comprehensive eye exam.Īn ophthalmologist or optometrist may use any of the following diagnostics to detect age-related macular degeneration: This could lead to a later stage diagnosis, which may be more difficult to treat. The early stages of AMD do not usually cause any noticeable symptoms. Some other complications that can arise from AMD are mental health issues like depression and anxiety. People with severe or late-stage AMD could be considered legally blind. ![]() This can make normal activities like reading, driving and distinguishing images difficult. Central vision gradually decreases, leaving only side (peripheral) vision. The main complication of age-related macular degeneration is central vision loss. ![]() The only risk factors consistently found in studies to be associated with AMD are aging and smoking. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) notes that findings regarding AMD and risk factors have been contradictory, depending on the study. Past sunlight exposure – People with a history of more sunlight exposure seem to be at higher risk. Smoking – Smoking cigarettes and using tobacco products may double your risk of developing AMD. High blood pressure can also play a role. Heredity – Having a sibling or parent with AMD means that your chances to develop the condition are tripled when compared to someone without a genetic predisposition.Ĭardiovascular disease – Heart disease can damage the blood vessels of the eyes and contribute to AMD. Obesity and inactivity – Eating a diet that is high in saturated fat can contribute to obesity and increase your risks for AMD. Women tend to have higher levels of inflammation than men, which can also contribute to depression. This may be due to the different inflammatory responses that occur in men and women. Risk factors for developing macular degeneration include:Īging – Men and women over 50 years of age have a higher risk of developing this condition. Some researchers believe that over-exposure to sunlight also may be a contributing factor in development of macular degeneration, but this theory has not been proven conclusively. Researchers have noted a strong association between the development of AMD and presence of a variant gene. Though macular degeneration is associated with aging, research suggests there also may be a genetic component to the disease. Causes of age-related macular degeneration When viewing with both eyes simultaneously, the symptoms of blur and distortion may not be noticed. Many patients do not notice the symptoms of AMD if they are present in only one eye or are more pronounced in one eye than the other. Some patients may notice wavy or distorted words when reading.Īdditional symptoms include difficulty seeing details in poor lighting conditions and glare sensitivity. Macular degeneration symptomsĮarly signs of vision loss from AMD include shadowy areas in your central vision or unusually fuzzy or distorted vision. In some cases, wet AMD can cause sudden vision loss. The vision loss caused by wet AMD is often noticed by the patient once the condition is very serious. Patients with wet age-related macular degeneration typically experience more significant vision loss than those with dry AMD. These abnormal blood vessels may leak fluids or blood into the back of the eye. Wet AMD is caused by leaky blood vessels in the retina. Wet AMD (also called exudative AMD) is a more visually threatening condition and accounts for 10%-20% of AMD cases. Most patients with dry AMD notice a gradual, painless loss of vision that progresses with time. These protein deposits are called drusen. There are two types of macular degeneration: Dry AMD and Wet AMD.ĭry AMD (also called non-exudative AMD) is the most common form, affecting 80%-90% of AMD patients.ĭry AMD is due to an accumulation of proteins in the macula that causes the retinal cells above them to lose function. AMD is most common in the white population. The prevalence of AMD and the severity of vision loss increases with age, according to the American Optometric Association.ĪMD may occur in one or both eyes and may affect each eye differently. According to statistics, one-third of males and one-quarter of females over 75 have some form of AMD. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss among older Americans. The health of the macula determines our ability to read, recognize faces, drive, watch television, use a digital device and perform any other detailed visual task.Ī patient with age-related macular degeneration gradually loses central vision but maintains peripheral or side vision. Macular degeneration - also called age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD) - is a vision change that can gradually create blurry vision over time.ĪMD affects the macula, the small central area of the retina that maintains our sharpest vision. ![]()
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