Warning signs & Symptoms

There are two kinds of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 

Dry AMD is the more common of the two, with blurred vision often being the earliest warning
sign. People see details less clearly as deterioration occurs in the cells of the macula, the small, specialized area in the center of the retina. Bright light often decreases the blurred vision, but people may experience a growing blind spot in their vision over time, as the condition progresses slowly. Blurred or distorted vision in the “straight ahead” area is the most common symptom as dry AMD progresses.

Wet AMD is less common. It occurs when blood vessels leak fluid in the area behind the macula, causing acutely blurry and distorted vision. The first sign that many people perceive is that straight lines begin to appear bent. Small blind spots may also occur and cause a loss of central vision.

Diagnosis

When someone may be suffering from AMD, the doctor may notice early changes on the comprehensive eye exam. Early detection is the most effective way to slow vision loss.  Additional tests may be performed, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) to provide a map of the macular area.  This test can be repeated and monitored for change over time, or fluorescein angiography (FA) can be performed to monitor for development of new leaky blood vessels.

Prevention

Roughly half of AMD cases are related to genetics, according to recent studies. Smoking, or having a family history of AMD increases your risk of developing the disease. AMD is more common with increasing age, in caucasians, and in females. Studies have shown that certain nutrients lower the risk of AMD and slow its progression, including omega-3 fish oil, lutein, and zeaxanthin, commonly available as part of the AREDS2 formula.

Treatment/Procedures

While there is currently no cure for AMD, several treatments can slow its progression. Recent developments bring potential to improve vision in some patients.

• For wet AMD, treatment most frequently begins with drug injections that reduce blood vessel growth. These injections are often repeated at regular intervals to minimize vision loss.
• For dry AMD, using certain nutrients in vitamin/ mineral form can slow progression. A new treatment, photobiomodulation, utilizes specific wavelengths of light to alter retinal cells in the macular area and enable these cells to function at a better healthier level. Patients with dry macular degeneration who are candidates for photobiomodulation now have an opportunity for vision improvement. Dr. Scott Pollack, as an ophthalmology resident in Florida, was involved in the research which proved that this treatment works, and which ultimately led to photobiomodulation being approved to treat patients in the United States.