Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTalking to PeersAMD GlossaryTalking to Eye DoctorSupport Groups
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Talking to Peers
AMD Glossary
Talking to Eye Doctor
Support Groups
If you’ve recently been diagnosed withage-related macular degeneration(AMD), even while you’re still processing your diagnosis you’re also likely trying to explain AMD to others. But finding the right words to help friends and family understand what’s happening to your vision can be difficult.
This article will explain how to talk about AMD with your friends and loved ones and how to best speak to your ophthalmologist. It will also give you the vocabulary you need to better discuss AMD and answers why it’s essential to talk to others also managing AMD.
luza studios / Getty Images.
Talking About Your AMD With Peers
As you open up about your diagnosis, your friends and family members may pepper you with questions about AMD. Initially, you may not be too sure what to say. In part, this may be that you’re not exactly clear on what’s happening.
Before you try to explain this to anyone else, take the time to figure out how AMD affects you and how it progresses.
One of the most common questions is, “What exactly is macular degeneration?”
AMD is a degenerative disease that, if untreated, gets worse. In particular, central vision (responsible for reading and distinguishing faces) worsens over time.
You may also want to share how the condition has been affecting you and what they can do to make your life easier, such as giving you a ride to an appointment. Also, you may ask that they lend an ear as you try to determine the next steps.
AMD Glossary: Common Terms to Know
Part of clearly understanding AMD is decoding the jargon many use to describe this condition. Knowing what these words mean can also allow you to convey to others what’s going on. Here are some terms that can help:
Progression of AMD
Talking About Your AMD With an Ophthalmologist
Your retinal specialist is a provider who you will see periodically for the foreseeable future. First, they will shepherd you through the process of getting a diagnosis. Then, they will be the ones to help you sift through the options for preserving your vision. It’s essential to develop a good rapport from the outset.
To get the relationship off on the right foot, as well as make sure you cover all the crucial points, come equipped with some questions, such as the following:
Throughout the process, it’s important to keep the lines of communication open to give you a sense that your retina specialist is in touch with your concerns.
Speaking the Same Language: AMD Support Groups
Even with a variety of treatment options, learning that you have AMD can be overwhelming for anyone. Your family and friends can be a great source of support and help with daily responsibilities and running errands if needed.
In addition, reaching out to others who know for themselves what you are going through can make a big difference.You are far from alone. In the United States, around 20 million adults have some type of AMD.
Joining an AMD support group provides you with a chance to do the following:
It can also be an ideal opportunity to use the AMD-related words you’ve mastered in a setting where everybody knows what you are talking about.
Summary
While learning you have AMD can be challenging, talking to others can help to alleviate your concerns. But to make this easier, it’s essential to clearly understand the terms your eye doctor will be using and that you will need to explain what’s happening to others.
Also crucial is speaking to others with AMD, which can help you feel less alone. It also is an excellent way to learn how to navigate this condition successfully.
27 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cincinnati Eye Institute.Ten common questions about macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Bright Focus Foundation.How to use the Amsler grid.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Anti-VEGF treatments.Bright Focus Foundation.What is choroidal neovascularization?American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are drusen?American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is fluorescein angiograph?National Cancer Institute.Fudoscopy.Bright Focus Foundation.What is geographic atrophy?DailyMed. National Institutes of Health.SYFOVRE- pegcetacoplan injection, solution.DailyMed. National Institutes of Health.IZERVAY- avacincaptad pegol injection.University of Rochester Medical Center.Laser photocoagulation for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Prevent Blindness.What is low vision rehabilitation?Bright Focus Foundation.The function of the normal macula.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is optical coherence tomography?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Photodynamic therapy (PDT).American Academy of Ophthalmology.Retina.Bright Focus Foundation.Retinal pigment epithelium: the eye’s first line of defense against macular degeneration.American Society of Retina Specialists.Retina specialists can help you see for a lifetime.Bright Focus Foundation.View how macular degeneration may affect vision.Heesterbeek TJ, Lorés-Motta L, Hoyng CB, Lechanteur YTE, den Hollander AI.Risk factors for progression of age-related macular degeneration.Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2020;40(2):140-170. doi:10.1111/opo.12675Johns Hopkins Medicine. Wilmer Eye Institute.Macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Talk with your doctor about AMD.Bright Focus Foundation.Macular degeneration: family & relationships.Bright Focus Foundation.Age-related macular degeneration: Facts & figures.Oregon Health Sciences University.Living with macular degeneration and low vision: Online talks for you and your family.
27 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cincinnati Eye Institute.Ten common questions about macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Bright Focus Foundation.How to use the Amsler grid.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Anti-VEGF treatments.Bright Focus Foundation.What is choroidal neovascularization?American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are drusen?American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is fluorescein angiograph?National Cancer Institute.Fudoscopy.Bright Focus Foundation.What is geographic atrophy?DailyMed. National Institutes of Health.SYFOVRE- pegcetacoplan injection, solution.DailyMed. National Institutes of Health.IZERVAY- avacincaptad pegol injection.University of Rochester Medical Center.Laser photocoagulation for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Prevent Blindness.What is low vision rehabilitation?Bright Focus Foundation.The function of the normal macula.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is optical coherence tomography?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Photodynamic therapy (PDT).American Academy of Ophthalmology.Retina.Bright Focus Foundation.Retinal pigment epithelium: the eye’s first line of defense against macular degeneration.American Society of Retina Specialists.Retina specialists can help you see for a lifetime.Bright Focus Foundation.View how macular degeneration may affect vision.Heesterbeek TJ, Lorés-Motta L, Hoyng CB, Lechanteur YTE, den Hollander AI.Risk factors for progression of age-related macular degeneration.Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2020;40(2):140-170. doi:10.1111/opo.12675Johns Hopkins Medicine. Wilmer Eye Institute.Macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Talk with your doctor about AMD.Bright Focus Foundation.Macular degeneration: family & relationships.Bright Focus Foundation.Age-related macular degeneration: Facts & figures.Oregon Health Sciences University.Living with macular degeneration and low vision: Online talks for you and your family.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cincinnati Eye Institute.Ten common questions about macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Bright Focus Foundation.How to use the Amsler grid.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Anti-VEGF treatments.Bright Focus Foundation.What is choroidal neovascularization?American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are drusen?American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is fluorescein angiograph?National Cancer Institute.Fudoscopy.Bright Focus Foundation.What is geographic atrophy?DailyMed. National Institutes of Health.SYFOVRE- pegcetacoplan injection, solution.DailyMed. National Institutes of Health.IZERVAY- avacincaptad pegol injection.University of Rochester Medical Center.Laser photocoagulation for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Prevent Blindness.What is low vision rehabilitation?Bright Focus Foundation.The function of the normal macula.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is optical coherence tomography?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Photodynamic therapy (PDT).American Academy of Ophthalmology.Retina.Bright Focus Foundation.Retinal pigment epithelium: the eye’s first line of defense against macular degeneration.American Society of Retina Specialists.Retina specialists can help you see for a lifetime.Bright Focus Foundation.View how macular degeneration may affect vision.Heesterbeek TJ, Lorés-Motta L, Hoyng CB, Lechanteur YTE, den Hollander AI.Risk factors for progression of age-related macular degeneration.Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2020;40(2):140-170. doi:10.1111/opo.12675Johns Hopkins Medicine. Wilmer Eye Institute.Macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Talk with your doctor about AMD.Bright Focus Foundation.Macular degeneration: family & relationships.Bright Focus Foundation.Age-related macular degeneration: Facts & figures.Oregon Health Sciences University.Living with macular degeneration and low vision: Online talks for you and your family.
Cincinnati Eye Institute.Ten common questions about macular degeneration.
National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Bright Focus Foundation.How to use the Amsler grid.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Anti-VEGF treatments.
Bright Focus Foundation.What is choroidal neovascularization?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are drusen?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is fluorescein angiograph?
National Cancer Institute.Fudoscopy.
Bright Focus Foundation.What is geographic atrophy?
DailyMed. National Institutes of Health.SYFOVRE- pegcetacoplan injection, solution.
DailyMed. National Institutes of Health.IZERVAY- avacincaptad pegol injection.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Laser photocoagulation for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Prevent Blindness.What is low vision rehabilitation?
Bright Focus Foundation.The function of the normal macula.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is optical coherence tomography?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Photodynamic therapy (PDT).
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Retina.
Bright Focus Foundation.Retinal pigment epithelium: the eye’s first line of defense against macular degeneration.
American Society of Retina Specialists.Retina specialists can help you see for a lifetime.
Bright Focus Foundation.View how macular degeneration may affect vision.
Heesterbeek TJ, Lorés-Motta L, Hoyng CB, Lechanteur YTE, den Hollander AI.Risk factors for progression of age-related macular degeneration.Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2020;40(2):140-170. doi:10.1111/opo.12675
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Wilmer Eye Institute.Macular degeneration.
National Eye Institute.Talk with your doctor about AMD.
Bright Focus Foundation.Macular degeneration: family & relationships.
Bright Focus Foundation.Age-related macular degeneration: Facts & figures.
Oregon Health Sciences University.Living with macular degeneration and low vision: Online talks for you and your family.
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