Eye Diseases - Age-related Macular Degeneration

Age-related Macular Degeneration

What is it?

As the name implies, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs when the macula degenerates with increasing age. The macula is located in the center of the retina and provides information for fine, detailed vision when you look straight ahead. Damage to the macula results in problems with central vision.

The exact cause of AMD is not known. For some reason, the macula fails to receive the nutrients it needs to survive and it degenerates.

Symptoms

AMD may cause:

Problems reading books
Washed out colors
Blindspots in the central visual field

Image modified from National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health

Risk Factors

Gender: women may be at greater risk than men.
Smoking: smoking may increase the risk of AMD.
Family History: AMD may run in families.
Cholesterol: people with high levels of blood cholesterol may be at higher risk for AMD.

Diagnosis

Eye examination: an eye doctor will look for problems with the macula.
Fluorescein angiography: an intravenous dye is injected into a patient. Photographs are taken as the dye passes through retinal blood vessels.

Treatment

Photocoagulation: a laser is used to destroy abnormal blood vessels that develop in the macula.

Did you know?

There are two types of AMD:

Dry AMD: the most common type of AMD; affects about 90 percent of those with the disease. Dry AMD results in a slow loss of retinal cells in the macula. Therefore, central vision is lost slowly.

Wet AMD: the less common, but more serious form of the disease because it results in severe vision loss. Wet AMD results when new blood vessels grow behind the retina near the macula. These new blood vessels are weak and may leak blood under the macula.