Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a common condition in older adults and the leading cause of vision loss in people ages 50 and older. Macular degeneration affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for the crisp, detailed central vision needed for reading or driving.
The speed at which AMD advances is variable. In some patients, the condition progresses slowly and the changes in vision are imperceptible for some time. In others, the disease moves at an accelerated pace, leading relatively quickly to loss of central vision in one or both eyes. While AMD does not result in complete blindness because some peripheral vision always remains, it does make ordinary activities, particularly those that require close visual acuity, increasingly difficult.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that affects the macula, the central portion of the retina responsible for detailed vision.
AMD can make activities such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces more difficult. It typically affects central vision rather than peripheral vision and is more common in adults over age 50.
Dry AMD is the more common form of the disease. It involves changes in the macula, including the accumulation of deposits called drusen and gradual deterioration of retinal tissue.
Dry AMD may progress slowly, although some patients develop advanced disease with geographic atrophy and significant central vision loss.
Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels develop beneath the retina and leak blood or fluid. This can lead to rapid changes in central vision and requires prompt evaluation.
Common symptoms include:
Sudden changes in central vision should be evaluated promptly.
Treatment varies according to the type and stage of AMD.
For some patients with intermediate dry AMD, specific nutritional supplements may help reduce the risk of progression. Certain patients with geographic atrophy may be candidates for treatments intended to slow disease progression.
Wet AMD is commonly treated with anti-VEGF injections, which help control abnormal blood vessel activity and reduce retinal fluid.
Regular monitoring remains an important part of care.
