Macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a painless eye condition that causes you to lose central vision, usually in both eyes.
Central vision is what you see when you focus straight ahead. In AMD, this vision becomes increasingly blurred, which means:
This sight lossusually happens gradually over time, although it can sometimes be rapid.
AMDdoesn't affect your peripheral vision (side vision), which means it will not cause complete blindness.
If your vision suddenly gets worse, images are distorted or you notice blind spots in your field of vision, seek medical advice immediately and book an emergency appointment with an optometrist.
If AMD is suspected,you'll be referred to an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) for tests and any necessary treatment.
There are two main types dry AMD and wet AMD.
Dry AMD develops when the cells of the macula become damagedby a build-up ofdeposits called drusen. It's the most common and least serious type of AMD, accounting for around9 out of 10 cases.
Vision loss isgradual, occurring over many years. However,an estimated1 in 10 people with dry AMD go on to develop wet AMD.
Wet AMD sometimescalled neovascularAMD develops when abnormal blood vessels form underneath the macula and damageits cells.
Wet AMD is more serious than dry AMD. Without treatment, vision can deteriorate within days.
AMD currently affects more than 600,000 people in the UK andis the leading cause of vision loss. By 2020, it's predicted almost 700,000 people will have late-stage AMD in the UK.
For reasons that are unclear, AMD tends to be more common in women than men. It's also more common in white and Chinese people.
The condition is most common in people over the age of50. It's estimated 1 in every 10 people over 65 have somedegree of AMD.
There's currently no cure for either type of AMD. With dry AMD, treatmentaims tohelp a person make the most of their remaining vision for example,magnifying lenses can be used to make reading easier.
There's some evidence to suggest a diet rich in leafy greenvegetables may slow the progression of dry AMD.
Wet AMD can be treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medication. This aims to stop your vision getting worse by preventing further blood vessels developing.
In some cases, laser surgery can also be used to destroy abnormal blood vessels.
The early diagnosis and treatment of wet AMD is essentialfor reducing the risk of severe visionloss.
Your risk of developing AMD is closely linked to your age and whether you have a family history of the condition.
However, you may be able toreduce your risk ofdeveloping AMD, or help prevent itgetting worse, by:
Find out about age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which mainly affects people over 50 years of age and usually leads to a gradual loss of central vision.
Read about the symptoms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which causes a loss of central vision that affects your ability to see objects and fine detail clearly.
Read about what causes macular degeneration. Dry AMD is the result of a build-up of waste material in the retina. Wet AMD is caused by tiny blood vessels that grow under the macula.
Find out how macular degeneration is diagnosed using a routine eye test, Amsler grid and retinal imaging techniques.
Read about managing dry AMD, including maximising low vision and dietary advice, plus the two main treatments for wet AMD: anti-VEGF medication and laser surgery.
Read about the possible complications of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), including depression, anxiety and visual hallucinations caused by Charles Bonnet syndrome.
Barbara Watson talks about how age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affected her.