Age-Related Macular Degeneration

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision. AMD doesn’t cause complete blindness, but losing your central vision can make it harder to see faces, drive, or do close-up work like cooking or fixing things around the house. AMD happens very slowly in some people. Even if you have early AMD, you may not experience vision loss for a long time. For other people, AMD progresses faster and can lead to central vision loss in one eye or both eyes.

What are the signs & symptoms of AMD?

As AMD progresses, many people see a blurry area near the centre of their vision. Over time, this blurry area may get bigger or you may see blank spots. Things may also seem less bright than before.

Some people may also notice that straight lines start to look wavy. This can be a warning sign for late AMD. If you notice this symptom, see your eye doctor right away.

Am I at risk for AMD?

Your risk for AMD increases as you get older. People over age 60 are more likely to have AMD. Macular degeneration may have something to do with your genes. If someone in your family, has it, your risk might be higher

The risk for AMD is also higher for people who is:

• Smoking
• Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, obesity
• Eating lots of saturated fat
• Being light-skinned
•  Being female
• Having a light eye colour

How can I lower my risk for AMD?

Research shows that you may be able to lower your risk of AMD (or slow its progression) by making these healthy choices:

Quit smoking — or don’t start

Get regular physical activity

Maintain a healthy blood pressure and cholesterol level       

Eat healthy foods, including leafy green vegetables and fish

 

Can I identify AMD early?

Sadly, early on, you might not have any noticeable signs of macular degeneration until it gets worse or affects both eyes. In addition, symptoms of macular degeneration may include, worse or less clear vision, dark/blurry areas in the centre of your vision and rarely, worse or different colour perception.

Are there any treatments for AMD?

Unfortunately, No!

There’s no cure for macular degeneration. Treatment may slow it down or keep you from losing too much of your vision.

If you are diagnosed with intermediate or late AMD, ask your eye doctor about treatment options and how the condition may affect your vision in the future

·       If you have intermediate or late AMD, special dietary supplements (vitamins and minerals) may be able to stop it from getting worse.

·  Medicines called anti-VEGF drugs that the doctor injects in your eye, Laser treatment, called photodynamic therapy (PDT) are the treatments for people with a type of late AMD called “wet” or neovascular AMD.

How do I live with vision loss from AMD?

Not everyone with AMD develops late AMD or gets it in both eyes. But if you do, living with vision loss from AMD can be challenging. Having low vision means that even with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, your vision loss makes it hard to do everyday tasks.