Adult Macular Degeneration

Definition

Adult macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease where a person loses their central vision. It gets worse over time. The macula is the part of the retina that controls central vision. The retina is the tissue that lines the back of the eye. AMD happens when the macula wears down.

There are 2 types:

• Dry form—parts of the macula get thinner and protein deposits called drusen affect vision
• Wet form—new blood vessels grow under the macula and leak blood and other fluids into the retina

Macular Degeneration.

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Causes

The cause of AMD is not known.

Risk Factors

This problem is more common in adults 50 years of age and older. It is also more common in people with dark-colored eyes.

Other things that may raise the risk are:

• Past cataract surgery
• Farsightedness
• Smoking
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• A diet that is low in certain vitamins and minerals
• Alcohol use disorder
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Having other family members with AMD

Symptoms

AMD may slowly get worse over time and have little effect on a person's vision. Others may have a lot of vision loss in a short amount of time. It does not cause pain.

A person with AMD may:

• Have blurred eyesight that may get better in brighter light
• Have problems seeing details in front of the eyes, such as faces or words in a book
• Have a small but growing blind spot in the middle of a person's field of vision
• See straight lines (such as door frames) as being crooked or distorted

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. This may be enough to suspect AMD.

A doctor who treats eyes will do an eye exam and view the retina. This can confirm the diagnosis.

Some people may need images taken of the eyes. This can be done with:

• Angiography—uses a dye to make blood vessels easier to see
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT)—uses a dim red light to take a picture of the retina

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to try to slow the disease’s progress. This will help people have their vision longer. How that is done depends on the type of AMD and how bad it is.

Prevention

To lower the risk of this problem:

• Eat a healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts.
• Make sure to get enough vitamins and minerals.
• Use a hat and sunglasses when outside.
• Do not smoke.