Macular Degeneration: What You Need to Know
As the leading thief of vision, macular degeneration affects more Americans – approximately 10 million – than cataracts and glaucoma combined.
Unfortunately, macular degeneration, most commonly referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is currently considered an incurable eye disease.
There are things you can do to reduce your risk and, with early detection, there are effective strategies to slow the progression.
Learn all about the disease, including macular degeneration causes, symptoms, types, stages, and much more.
What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
As a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older, age-related macular degeneration is a common eye condition that deteriorates the macula.
The macula is a small area of the eye located near the center of the retina and controls visual acuity. The macula is also the most sensitive part of the retina. The macula is essential for sharp, central vision and is key to us viewing objects that are straight ahead.
The healthier your macula, the better you’re able to see fine detail and perform tasks like reading, driving, using the computer, and recognizing faces and your surrounding environment.
When the macula is damaged and/or begins to deteriorate, the center of your field of vision can start to appear distorted, blurry, or dark.
Only a comprehensive eye exam from an optometrist can detect AMD and identify the most appropriate treatment route.
Let the experts at iCare Vision help you protect and care for your vision.
Macular Degeneration Symptoms
In most cases, age-related macular degeneration is a slow, painless process of vision loss. Additionally, the early stages of AMD may not yield any noticeable symptoms. In rare cases, AMD can cause sudden vision loss.
Fortunately, there are warning signs of AMD to look out for.
Early macular degeneration symptoms include:
- Gradual or sudden change in vision quality
- Shadowy, dark, or blurry areas in your central vision
- A whiteout-like condition that appears in the center of your vision
- Straight lines appear distorted
- Prolonged fuzzy or distorted vision
- Change in color perception
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, or suspect there is an issue with the health of your vision, it is best to seek clinical support and consult with an optometrist immediately.
Because AMD can arise with no symptoms at all, an annual eye exam by a licensed optometrist can detect early signs of macular degeneration. Typically, when macular degeneration is suspected, an optometrist will conduct a quick, painless test using an Amsler grid that measures the aptitude of your central vision.
Macular Degeneration Causes
As its name alludes to, age-related macular degeneration can become more preventant as you age. However, AMD is not solely associated with aging.
There is a genetic component to the disease. Numerous studies have shown there to be a strong correlation between the development of AMD and the presence of a gene variant known as complement factor H (CFH).
Additionally, lifestyle and health factors are also linked causes or motivators of macular degeneration, such as a poor diet, smoking, or high blood pressure. Sun exposure is also relevant in the extent of the damage. Wearing dedicated sun glasses and transitions/photochromic lense absorb the UV radiation that may contribute to the disease/degeneration.
Because the root cause of AMD can vary from person to person, AMD progresses differently in each individual contending with the disease. For some individuals, AMD will advance slowly and vision loss will not occur for a long time. Other individuals will experience a faster progression and may lose vision in one or both eyes.
In any age-related macular degeneration case, there are different types and stages:
Two Types of Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is diagnosed as either dry (non-neovascular) or wet (neovascular).
Neovascular is the growth of new blood vessels in an area – such as the macula – where they are not supposed to be.
Dry AMD
Dry age-related macular degeneration is the common form, with approximately 80% of people being diagnosed with it.
Dry AMD causes parts of the macula to thin with age and can prompt tiny clumps of protein (called drusen) to grow. With dry AMD, vision is slowly lost. Dry can also convert to wet type so dry needs to be followed every 6 to 12 months.
Wet AMD
While wet AMD is less common, it is the more serious form. When new, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina, it is known as wet AMD.
These new vessels tend to leak blood or other fluids and cause scarring on the macula. With the severity of damage done to the macula, vision is lost faster.
A diagnosis of wet macular degeneration will fall into one of two categories:
- Occult. The new blood vessel growth is not as pronounced, and blood/fluid leakage is less evident. Vision loss with the occult form tends to be less severe.
- Classic. The new blood vessel growth and scarring is pronounced beneath the retina. Vision loss with the classic form tends to be more severe.
Stages of Macular Degeneration
There are three stages of age-related macular degeneration. In addition, it is possible to have AMD in only one eye, or to have AMD in both eyes but at different stage diagnoses.
- Early AMD = Medium-sized drusen. Individuals with early AMD usually do not have vision loss.
- Intermediate AMD = Large drusen, pigment changes in the retina, or both. Individuals with intermediate AMD may experience some vision loss, but most individuals will not experience any symptoms.
- Late AMD = Large drusen, damage to the macula. Individuals with late AMD experience vision loss.
Risk Factors for Macular Degeneration
Aside from age (50 years and older) and genetics (genetic trait/family history of AMD), there are certain AMD risk factors to be aware of.
AMD is more likely to develop if you:
- Eat a diet high in saturated fat
- Are overweight
- Smoke cigarettes
- Are Caucasian
- Have a light eye color
- Have heart disease
- Have high cholesterol levels
Macular Degeneration Treatment
As previously stated, there is no cure for age-related macular degeneration. Treatment may delay the progression of AMD, and some treatments may even improve vision.
AMD treatment depends on the stage of the disease and whether it is diagnosed as a the dry or wet form.
- For dry macular degeneration, nutritional intervention may help prevent its progression to the wet form.
- For wet macular degeneration, FDA-approved drugs that help stop abnormal blood vessel growth have proved to be effective. One FDA-approved medication has been shown to improve vision in a large number of individuals affected by macular degeneration.
Laser therapy is also an option, where high-energy laser light damages and destroys the actively growing abnormal blood vessels.
Again, only a comprehensive eye exam can detect AMD and enact the most appropriate treatment route.
Macular Degeneration Prevention
It cannot be overstated enough: The earlier AMD is detected, the greater the chance that treatment will help.
Be sure to see your optometrist if you or a loved one experience any symptoms of AMD. Above all, ensure you get an eye exam every year.
Effective macular degeneration prevention tips include:
- Scheduling a comprehensive eye exam as soon as possible and attend an annual eye exam
- Quitting smoking
- Eating a balanced diet
- Protecting your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays
- Taking a multivitamin with antioxidants and zinc
For the best prevention strategy, consult with your optometrist.
When to See an Optometrist About Your Macular Degeneration Symptoms
Many people don’t realize they have age-related macular degeneration until their vision is very blurry. Preventing vision loss from AMD starts with regular eye exams. At iCare Vision, we look for early signs of AMD before you have any vision problems.
If you notice any changes in your vision, it’s best to consult with the eye doctors at iCare Vision immediately.
Your vision is precious, let us help you preserve yours.
