What is Macular Degeneration?
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs when the part of the eye called the macula is damaged, causing loss of vision in the center while leaving vision off to the sides intact. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in adults over 60. The vision loss due to AMD can greatly affect everyday activities such as driving, cooking, reading, computer work, and sadly, seeing the faces of those around you.
There are two types of AMD - wet and dry. With dry AMD the loss of vision is caused by a slow, natural thinning of the macula. While it is the most common form of AMD there is no treatment for it. However, if caught early or if only in one eye, there are ways to protect the existing vision.
The less common form is wet AMD. This is due to an abnormal growth of blood vessels causing leakage of fluid and damage to the macula. With wet AMD vision loss may occur rapidly. This may be noticed as sudden blurriness, or straight lines may look crooked or wavy. Colors may also look dull, and vision may be especially difficult in low lighting. Fortunately, there are treatment options for wet AMD.
Vision changes due to AMD may occur at different rates for different people. Having annual, comprehensive eye exams is essen
tial to detect the progressive changes caused by AMD over time. For more information go to nei.nih.gov/ and search on AMD.
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