What is Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?

 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a troubling disease and is usually found in individuals over the age of 50. In most cases, the disease affects both eyes and progresses very slowly. Visual symptoms of AMD involve loss of central vision, affecting activities such as reading, driving and watching TV. It is important to point out that macular degeneration does not lead to blindness because peripheral vision is unaffected.

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Ninety percent of patients have the so-called dry form of macular degeneration. This form is slowly progressive and patients rarely suffer from severe vision loss. There is often little that needs or can be done.

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Fewer than 10 percent of all patients develop the wet form of macular degeneration. With the latter form, abnormal “leaky” vessels grow between the layers of the retina. Substantial loss of central (e.g. reading) vision may be lost in on a few weeks to months.