Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEarly SignsDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Early Signs
Diagnosis
Treatment
With age-relatedmacular degeneration(AMD), you can lose the detailedcentral visionyou rely on for reading, recognizing faces, and navigating many life tasks. This occurs as the part of the eye responsible for sharp vision, known as themacula, deteriorates or is damaged. For those over age 50, this is the leading cause of vision loss.
Macular degeneration has two main types: wet and dry. With wet macular degeneration, abnormal leaking blood vessels are the culprits leading to vision loss. Withdry AMD, cells responsible for detailed vision begin to die off.
Since this condition can threaten sight if left unchecked and early symptoms can be subtle, undergoing regular eye exams is crucial. The sooner early warning signs for macular degeneration are recognized and the condition is detected, the better the chance of preserving vision.
In this article, you’ll learn about early warning signs of macular degeneration, later symptoms, how AMD is diagnosed and treated, and the prognosis for those with this condition.
What Are the Early Warning Signs of Macular Degeneration?
Earlysymptoms of macular degenerationare experienced in the dry form, but as the condition progresses, symptoms can occur with either dry or wet AMD.
Macular degeneration strictlyaffects the central vision, not theperipheral vision(what you see out of the corner of your eyes).The macula is part of theretina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye.
Early Symptoms
The sooner macular degeneration is detected, the better. Early in the disease process, there may be no signs of macular degeneration or only very subtle ones, so it is essential to undergo regular eye exams.
Even before macular degeneration causes symptoms, yourophthalmologist or optometrist(eye specialists) can identify retinal changes associated with this condition. They can perform testing and determine if there are changes to the area that indicate that you have early macular degeneration.
Since macular degeneration tends to occur as you age, it is recommended that people over age 50 have their eyes examined every two years and those over 65 every year. If macular degeneration is detected, your eye specialist will tell you how frequently follow-ups are needed.
The first symptoms can be very subtle. You may notice that part of your central vision in one or both eyes is blurred or distorted, and you are just not seeing as you should. It is important to promptly bring this information to the attention of your eye specialist and not ignore this symptom.
Intermediate Symptoms
Even at the intermediate stage, some people with macular degeneration have no symptoms. But at this point, some may notice signs not present before, such as mild central blurriness or difficulty seeing in low light. You may notice, for example, that you need more light to read.
Late Symptoms
By the late stage, clear-cut signs may begin to emerge, such as the following;
If you notice any of these symptoms, which could indicate that you are developing late AMD, contact your eye specialist promptly.
How Is Macular Degeneration Diagnosed
A variety of tests can help detect macular degeneration. After having acomprehensive eye exam, you may undergo some of the following:
It is important to undergo thorough testing to ensure that your symptoms are indeed signs of macular degeneration. Other eye conditions can mimic AMD, such as the following:
A Word From VerywellRoutine eye exams become vitally important as people get older. Many ocular diseases, such as macular degeneration, develop later in life. Prioritizing regular eye care can potentially lead to an earlier diagnosis, where interventions to slow progression can prevent further vision loss.—CHRISTINE L. LARSEN, MD, MEDICAL REVIEW BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Routine eye exams become vitally important as people get older. Many ocular diseases, such as macular degeneration, develop later in life. Prioritizing regular eye care can potentially lead to an earlier diagnosis, where interventions to slow progression can prevent further vision loss.—CHRISTINE L. LARSEN, MD, MEDICAL REVIEW BOARD
Routine eye exams become vitally important as people get older. Many ocular diseases, such as macular degeneration, develop later in life. Prioritizing regular eye care can potentially lead to an earlier diagnosis, where interventions to slow progression can prevent further vision loss.
—CHRISTINE L. LARSEN, MD, MEDICAL REVIEW BOARD
How Is Macular Degeneration Treated
The options for treating macular degeneration vary depending on the form and where you are in the course of the disease.
Early Macular Degeneration
Unfortunately, nothing can be done to treat macular degeneration early in the disease process.Still, your eye specialist will monitor your condition and will likely recommend that you eat healthy, exercise, and avoid any factors that can increase your risk, like smoking.
Intermediate Macular Degeneration
If your macular degeneration has reached the intermediate stage, the eye doctor may recommend takingAREDS 2 formula dietary supplementsto help slow down the progression to late AMD.
Late Dry Macular Degeneration
With geographic atrophy, the macula begins to deteriorate, and protein collects in the area. Syfovre (pegcetacoplan injection) keeps a protein called C3 in the body’s complement system (which promotes inflammation and enhances the immune response) at bay. Otherwise, the immune system may overreact and attack retinal cells.
Neither drug can reverse existing vision loss, however.
Late Wet Macular Degeneration
Two treatments can help slow wet macular degeneration. One approach is the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections.
The other anti-VEGF approach involves photodynamic therapy (PDT). A light-sensitive medication (verteporfin) is injected into your arm. The eye doctor shines a laser light on the back of your eye, which activates the medication. The medication causes the blood vessels that are creating problems to begin to break down, which slows disease progression.
What’s the Outlook for Someone With Macular Degeneration?
If you have been diagnosed with macular degeneration, it’s natural to be concerned about your prognosis and what it means for your sight.
While you may be worried about losing your vision, most people with macular degeneration maintain adequate vision throughout their lives. Also, even in cases where some central vision is lost, in nearly all cases, side vision is maintained.
Summary
With macular degeneration, identifying the condition as early as possible is important. In the earliest stages, AMD may have no signs but can be detected during an eye exam, making it vital to undergo these at least every couple of years if you are over 50.
11 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.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?Bright Focus Foundation.Macular degeneration: signs and symptoms.Macular Disease Foundation Australia.Diagnosing AMD.National Health Services.Symptoms age-related macular degeneration (AMD).National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration.New York University Langone Health.Diagnosing macular degeneration.Macular Degeneration.net.AMD look-alike conditions.Foundation Fighting Blindness.FDA approves Apellis' Syfovre, for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Macular Society.Second drug for dry AMD becomes available in the US.National Eye Institute.Treatment for wet AMD (advanced neovascular AMD).Bright Focus Foundation.Diagnosed with macular degeneration? Here’s what to expect
11 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.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?Bright Focus Foundation.Macular degeneration: signs and symptoms.Macular Disease Foundation Australia.Diagnosing AMD.National Health Services.Symptoms age-related macular degeneration (AMD).National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration.New York University Langone Health.Diagnosing macular degeneration.Macular Degeneration.net.AMD look-alike conditions.Foundation Fighting Blindness.FDA approves Apellis' Syfovre, for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Macular Society.Second drug for dry AMD becomes available in the US.National Eye Institute.Treatment for wet AMD (advanced neovascular AMD).Bright Focus Foundation.Diagnosed with macular degeneration? Here’s what to expect
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.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?Bright Focus Foundation.Macular degeneration: signs and symptoms.Macular Disease Foundation Australia.Diagnosing AMD.National Health Services.Symptoms age-related macular degeneration (AMD).National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration.New York University Langone Health.Diagnosing macular degeneration.Macular Degeneration.net.AMD look-alike conditions.Foundation Fighting Blindness.FDA approves Apellis' Syfovre, for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Macular Society.Second drug for dry AMD becomes available in the US.National Eye Institute.Treatment for wet AMD (advanced neovascular AMD).Bright Focus Foundation.Diagnosed with macular degeneration? Here’s what to expect
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?
Bright Focus Foundation.Macular degeneration: signs and symptoms.
Macular Disease Foundation Australia.Diagnosing AMD.
National Health Services.Symptoms age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration.
New York University Langone Health.Diagnosing macular degeneration.
Macular Degeneration.net.AMD look-alike conditions.
Foundation Fighting Blindness.FDA approves Apellis' Syfovre, for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Macular Society.Second drug for dry AMD becomes available in the US.
National Eye Institute.Treatment for wet AMD (advanced neovascular AMD).
Bright Focus Foundation.Diagnosed with macular degeneration? Here’s what to expect
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