Inside Out - Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
What is AMD?
Everything that matters is usually right in front of us, but for nearly 20 million Americans living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), each moment seen may be the last.
AMD is a progressive eye disease that affects a person’s central vision. It can damage eyesight, make it difficult to see what’s straight ahead, and significantly impact the quality of everyday life.
Anatomy & Physiology of a Healthy Eye
In the back of the eye is the retina, a film-like lining that converts what we see in our environment into information that the brain can process and understand. In the center of that retina is the macula, a small, round-to-slightly-oval-shaped spot, responsible for sharp and clear central vision that we need for reading, driving, recognizing faces, and seeing objects in fine detail.
Eye Impacted by AMD
There are two types of AMD; dry and wet. AMD usually starts as the dry form of the disease, causing small, yellow waste deposits, called drusen, to accumulate beneath the retina. Over time, drusen can thin and wear down the macula, starving it of nutrients and oxygen. For some, dry AMD will eventually develop into the wet form of the disease, where new and abnormal blood vessels sprout under the retina and leak blood into the macula.
 
Dive Deeper
 
AMD can wreak havoc on the eyes. Explore how the disease affects the macula and may put people at risk of irreversible loss of vision.
Eye Affected by AMD
Eye Affected by AMD
Understanding Disease Management and Treatment
AMD typically worsens over time. Without proper treatment and lifestyle changes, it can put people at risk of irreversible loss of central vision.
Importance of a balanced diet
Quit smoking
Getting eye checkups
Caring for your eyes
Finding the right treatment
Patient Community Encouragement
Mary Ruggeri, Physician Assistant and Educator
Rick, 51
Nothing I love more than driving the car on long road trips, but AMD put my eyesight in jeopardy. With treatment, I’m still on the road, enjoying my independence.
Mary Ruggeri, Physician Assistant and Educator
John, 64
My bad life habits caught up to me. Smoking was one of them. Still remember the day the doctor told me I had AMD. Haven’t picked up a cigarette since.
Mary Ruggeri, Physician Assistant and Educator
Ava, 79
I assumed my vision problems were a ‘normal part of aging’. Turns out, I had AMD. I never want to get to a place where I can’t recognize my grandkids’ faces. Treatment gave me peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with AMD, you probably have questions about the condition, its symptoms, and management. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about AMD.
What is AMD?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye disease that affects a person’s central vision. There are two types of AMD; dry and wet. In dry AMD, waste deposits, called drusen, can build up underneath the retina and cause the macula to thin and wear down. Over time, dry AMD may progress into wet AMD, where new and abnormal blood vessels form and leak blood and fluid under the retina and macula. If not properly managed, the disease can lead to irreversible and permanent loss of central vision.
What are symptoms of AMD?
Symptoms of AMD may not be noticeable until later stages of the disease.
Symptoms can include:
  • Blurriness or fuzzy vision
  • Distorted vision
  • Straight lines appearing wavy or bent
  • Colors looking faded
  • Trouble seeing in low light
  • Dark, empty area (blind spot) in center of vision
  • Difficulty recognizing faces
  • Loss of central vision
How is AMD treated?
Treatment for dry AMD isn’t always necessary in the early stages of the disease, although your doctor may recommend vitamins and minerals and will closely monitor your eyes for any changes. If the disease progresses to wet AMD, injections, laser treatments, and/or therapies may be needed to help stop or shrink growth of abnormal blood vessels, reduce leakage of blood and fluid underneath the retina, and slow down loss of central vision.
What are complications of AMD?
AMD complications include bulging, swelling, detachment, and scarring of the macula and faster onset of cataracts, all of which increase the risk of central vision loss. Routine eye exams can help you and your doctor catch these before they start affecting your eyesight.