Eye health resource
An Overview of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration affects the macula and can reduce central vision. Learn the difference between dry and wet AMD, warning symptoms, how it is evaluated, and when AREDS2 supplements or retinal treatment may be appropriate.
Reviewed for accuracy by Justin Bazan, OD on .
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is a disease of the macula—the central part of the retina responsible for detailed straight-ahead vision. AMD can make reading, recognizing faces, driving, and seeing fine detail more difficult, while side vision may remain relatively preserved.
AMD is most common in older adults and can exist without obvious symptoms in its earlier stages. It is not something that glasses, contact lenses, or vision therapy can stop.
What Are the Main Types of AMD?
Dry AMD
Most AMD begins as the dry form. Changes can include deposits called drusen and deterioration of retinal tissue. Dry AMD may progress slowly, although some people eventually develop more advanced retinal atrophy or convert to wet AMD.
Wet AMD
Wet, or neovascular, AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath or within the retina and leak fluid or blood. It can cause more rapid central-vision change and generally requires prompt evaluation by a retina specialist.
What Symptoms Can AMD Cause?
Early AMD may not cause noticeable symptoms. As disease progresses, possible changes include:
- blur or a missing area in central vision;
- straight lines appearing wavy or distorted;
- difficulty seeing fine detail;
- reduced contrast or more difficulty in dim lighting; and
- changes in how colors or faces appear.
A new distorted area, sudden central blur, or rapid change in vision should be evaluated promptly. Those symptoms do not prove that wet AMD is present, but they should not wait for a routine future exam.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Age is the strongest risk factor. Smoking and family history also increase risk. Other health and lifestyle factors can contribute, but no single diet, vitamin, or behavior guarantees that AMD will or will not develop.
Not smoking is one of the most important modifiable steps for overall eye health and AMD risk.
How Is AMD Evaluated?
A comprehensive eye examination can evaluate the macula and look for retinal changes. Depending on the findings, testing may include:
- a dilated retinal examination;
- retinal photography or wide-field retinal imaging;
- optical coherence tomography, or OCT, which produces cross-sectional images of retinal structure; and
- specialist testing such as angiography when indicated.
Park Slope Eye has Optos retinal imaging and Topcon Maestro OCT available when clinically useful. If findings suggest that retinal-specialist treatment or additional testing is needed, we can arrange referral.
Can Vitamins Treat AMD?
Specific AREDS2 nutritional supplements can reduce the risk of progression in certain people with intermediate AMD or with late AMD in one eye. They are not a general “eye vitamin” for everyone and have not been shown to prevent early AMD from becoming intermediate AMD.
The AREDS2 formula is not the same as simply taking extra omega-3s or an ordinary multivitamin. People should discuss whether the formula is appropriate for their stage of AMD, medications, smoking history, and overall health rather than self-prescribing high-dose supplements.
How Is Wet AMD Treated?
Wet AMD is commonly treated by a retina specialist with medicines called anti-VEGF agents that are injected into the eye. These medicines can reduce abnormal blood-vessel leakage and help preserve or improve vision in many patients. Other retinal treatments are used less commonly in selected cases.
Park Slope Eye does not imply that retinal injections are performed in our office. Our role is eye-health evaluation, appropriate imaging and monitoring, recognition of concerning changes, and coordination with ophthalmology or retina specialists when treatment is needed.
Can Glasses Help?
Glasses or contact lenses can correct refractive error that exists alongside AMD, but they do not treat the retinal disease itself. When permanent central-vision loss remains, low-vision strategies and devices may help a person use the vision they still have more effectively.
When Should You Be Checked?
People with known AMD should follow the examination and monitoring schedule recommended for their stage of disease. Anyone with a new central blur, distortion, or other significant vision change should be evaluated promptly rather than waiting for a routine interval.
If you have questions about macular changes or need a comprehensive eye examination, book an appointment online.
Originally published . Substantially updated .