Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDry Macular DegenerationWet Macular DegenerationStargardt DiseaseRisk FactorsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Dry Macular Degeneration
Wet Macular Degeneration
Stargardt Disease
Risk Factors
Frequently Asked Questions
There are different types of macular degeneration, includingdry macular degenerationandwet macular degeneration. Another macular disease called Stargardt disease is a dystrophy with similar symptoms, but it is inherited and occurs to people much younger in life.
This article will discuss these three macular diseases, typical symptoms, what is happening in the eye, and risk factors.
Verywell / Shideh Ghandeharizadeh
An estimated 11 million people in the United States have some form of macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration is the most common type of macular degeneration, affecting 85% to 90% of those with the disease.
With dry macular degeneration, the retina’s macula becomes thinner over time.Drusen, which are a buildup of retinal cellular waste products made up of lipid and protein, form within the macula area.
The macula is responsible for your central vision. Central vision is what you see in the middle of your vision when you look straight ahead. It is different from your side or peripheral vision. These drusen disrupt this macular area affecting your central vision.
In the early stage, you may not have any symptoms. As dry macular degeneration progresses, symptoms include:
Depending on its progression, dry macular degeneration may also be called early-stage or intermediate-stage AMD. If it causes vision loss, it is late-stage AMD.
Dry macular degeneration can progress to more serious forms of AMD, includinggeographic atrophy, the latest stage of dry AMD that causes more severe vision loss. Dry AMD can alsoprogress to the wet form, so it is still important to get it evaluated with regulareye exams.
Also, despite its name, dry macular degeneration is not the same thing asdry eye. Dry macular degeneration just means there is no bleeding, as there is in wet macular degeneration.
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Among those with macular degeneration, 10% to 15% will have the wet form of the disease.Wet macular degeneration is more serious than dry macular degeneration. It causes you to lose vision faster than with dry macular degeneration. Wet macular degeneration is considered late-stage AMD.
When you have wet macular degeneration, blood vessels grow abnormally under the retina. The blood vessels can leak blood and other fluids and lead to macula scarring.
The main symptom of wet macular degeneration is a gray, red, or black blind spot in your central vision.This loss of vision can happen quickly. This is why regular eye exams are important to help watch for signs of macular degeneration before they become worse.
If you have wet macular degeneration, you may have to monitor it with something called an Amsler grid. AnAmsler gridis a type of grid that you look at while holding it at a reading distance. While using the grid, you keep one eye closed or covered while you test the other eye. Your eye doctor will want to know if any lines are missing or look wavy.
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Stargardt disease is different from wet and dry macular degeneration because it is an inherited form of macular disease. It is also called juvenile macular degeneration or Stargardt muscular dystrophy.
About 30,000 people in the United States have Stargardt disease, as it occurs in one person out of every 8,000 to 10,000.Other genetic disorders can cause macular degeneration, but Stargardt disease is the most common form.
With Stargardt disease, progressive damage to the macula occurs just as it does with age-related forms of macular degeneration. However, central vision loss happens in your childhood or teen years. Some people may not notice any changes to their vision until they are an adult. Stargardt disease does not usually cause complete blindness.
Symptoms of Stargardt disease include:
While age-related macular degeneration does not usually cause loss of peripheral vision, Stargardt disease can lead to the loss of some side vision with age.
Risk factors for the age-related forms of macular degeneration include:
For Stargardt disease, the risk factor is an inheritance of certain gene mutations or changes, such as a mutation of theABCA4gene.
Summary
The most common types of macular degeneration are age-related dry macular degeneration and age-related wet macular degeneration. An inherited form, Stargardt disease, is less common and can affect people at an earlier age.
A Word From Verywell
It’s important to schedule regular eye exams so an eye doctor can monitor for certain common eye diseases, such as macular degeneration. If you have macular degeneration, your eye doctor can help monitor the disease progression and offer any available treatments. Make sure to return for those regular eye exams or treatment appointments.
Some of the risk factors for macular degeneration, such as age and genetics, are out of your control. However, some actions you can take to lower your risk include:Don’t smoke.Eat a diet rich in antioxidants (such as green, leafy vegetables).Cut down your consumption of foods high in cholesterol and fat.Keep your blood pressure under control.Maintain a healthy weight.Wear sunglasses that protect the eyes from ultraviolet light.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of AMD
Some of the risk factors for macular degeneration, such as age and genetics, are out of your control. However, some actions you can take to lower your risk include:Don’t smoke.Eat a diet rich in antioxidants (such as green, leafy vegetables).Cut down your consumption of foods high in cholesterol and fat.Keep your blood pressure under control.Maintain a healthy weight.Wear sunglasses that protect the eyes from ultraviolet light.
Some of the risk factors for macular degeneration, such as age and genetics, are out of your control. However, some actions you can take to lower your risk include:
Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of AMD
The early stages of macular degeneration can cause slow vision loss over years or even a decade. Vision loss with wet macular degeneration can happen more quickly, even causing vision changes within days or weeks.Learn MoreTimeline of Vision Loss in AMD
The early stages of macular degeneration can cause slow vision loss over years or even a decade. Vision loss with wet macular degeneration can happen more quickly, even causing vision changes within days or weeks.
Learn MoreTimeline of Vision Loss in AMD
If you have wet macular degeneration, the main treatment is with ananti-VEGF drugwhich isinjected into the eye. It can help stop or slow down the formation and leaking of abnormal blood vessels in the eye. It will not restore any lost vision. There also are laser-based treatments for macular degeneration.
Learn MoreHow Macular Degeneration Is Treated
8 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.MedlinePlus.Age-related macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration.BrightFocus Foundation.Symptoms of wet age-related macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Stargardt disease.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?Sui GY, Liu GC, Liu GY, et al.Is sunlight exposure a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Ophthalmol. 2013;97(4):389-394. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-302281Johns Hopkins Medicine.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).BrightFocus Foundation.What to expect when you receive the diagnosis of AMD.
8 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.MedlinePlus.Age-related macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration.BrightFocus Foundation.Symptoms of wet age-related macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Stargardt disease.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?Sui GY, Liu GC, Liu GY, et al.Is sunlight exposure a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Ophthalmol. 2013;97(4):389-394. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-302281Johns Hopkins Medicine.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).BrightFocus Foundation.What to expect when you receive the diagnosis of AMD.
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.
MedlinePlus.Age-related macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration.BrightFocus Foundation.Symptoms of wet age-related macular degeneration.National Eye Institute.Stargardt disease.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?Sui GY, Liu GC, Liu GY, et al.Is sunlight exposure a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Ophthalmol. 2013;97(4):389-394. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-302281Johns Hopkins Medicine.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).BrightFocus Foundation.What to expect when you receive the diagnosis of AMD.
MedlinePlus.Age-related macular degeneration.
National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration.
BrightFocus Foundation.Symptoms of wet age-related macular degeneration.
National Eye Institute.Stargardt disease.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?
Sui GY, Liu GC, Liu GY, et al.Is sunlight exposure a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Ophthalmol. 2013;97(4):389-394. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-302281
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
BrightFocus Foundation.What to expect when you receive the diagnosis of AMD.
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