Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWet vs. Dry AMDSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentProgressionPreventionLiving With AMDOutlookNext in Macular Degeneration GuideSymptoms of Macular Degeneration
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Wet vs. Dry AMD
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Progression
Prevention
Living With AMD
Outlook
Next in Macular Degeneration Guide
Particularly after age 50, many people have concerns about developing the potentially vision-damaging condition known as age-relatedmaculardegeneration (AMD).
AMD affects the central part of the light-sensitiveretinaat the back of the eye, the nerve tissue that sends visual information to the brain. This area, called themacula, is responsible for your ability to see fine details.
In cases in which AMD is advanced, damage to the macula occurs, causing those with this condition to have difficulty distinguishing faces or reading letters on a page. However, side vision usually remains intact.
This article will explain how to tell the difference between the two types of AMD (wet and dry), explain the symptoms of each, its causes, and how this condition is diagnosed and treated. It will also highlight what to know about progression and more.
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Wet vs. Dry Macular Degeneration
Dry AMD and wet AMD are the two types of macular degeneration. They have significant differences.
Most people with AMD (about 80%) havedry macular degeneration, also called atrophic AMD.With this form, the macular tissue thins as you age, and yellowish fat and protein deposits known asdrusenbuild up in the area. Dry AMD is the slower form of the disease. Vision loss may be mild in some cases and more significant in others.
Inwet AMD, abnormal blood vessels develop in the eye. These can leak onto the retina, causing macular scarring. With this form, you may only realize you have wet AMD once you contend with vision issues like blurring. That’s why having an eye doctor, such as an ophthalmologist or optometrist, regularly examine your eyes is crucial.
Macular Degeneration Symptoms
The visual symptoms you have with macular degeneration will depend upon the type. Here is what you can expect from each.
Dry Macular Degeneration Symptoms
With dry macular degeneration, thesymptoms will depend on how far the condition has progressed. Early on, there may not even be any symptoms. The good news is that this dry form can take a long time to advance. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
Wet Macular Degeneration Symptoms
With wet macular degeneration, also known as exudative, the condition can occur suddenly, sometimes in days. Those with the dry form of macular degeneration may also go on to develop the wet form.Signs that you are contending with wet AMD include:
What Are the Early Warning Signs of Macular Degeneration?
What Causes Macular Degeneration
AMD affects over 20 million Americans, with the risk increasing with age. Those age 75 and over face a 1 in 3 chance of developing AMD.
While scientists know a lot about the factors that can contribute to AMD and make people vulnerable to developing it, they have yet to pinpoint the cause. They do know that the macula begins to break down due to errors in the way the body functions.
Some risk factors can be modified, while others can’t.Factors that contribute to the development of AMD include the following:
Is Macular Degeneration Hereditary?
While scientists haven’t identified a specific gene with macular degeneration, they believe a genetic component exists. AMD tends to run in families.
Seven genetic regions appear to be associated with macular degeneration.However, these are not just on one chromosome. These are associated with different genetic areas, including those involved in immune system regulation, cellular structure maintenance, blood vessel permeability and growth, lipid metabolism, and plaque buildup on arteries.
The hope is that learning more about genetics regarding this condition will lead to the availability of new diagnostics and treatments.
Also, genetics has already been determined to factor into conditions such as Stargardt’s disease, sometimes referred to as inherited macular degeneration or juvenile or early-onset AMD. At its core, Stargardt’s disease involves mutations in the ABCA4 gene. This condition results in central vision loss and affects about 30,000 people.
Macular Degeneration Test: How to Diagnose AMD
While it’s usually an ophthalmologist or optometrist who notices the telltale signs of AMD during an annual exam, it’s possible to watch for signs of this condition on your own with the aid of anAmsler gridtest.
The Amsler grid resembles a piece of graph paper with a dot in the center. The idea is to look for lines that appear missing, distorted, or wavy on a daily basis. You can report any changes to your ophthalmologist as soon as you detect them.
Other tests that you may need to undergo include the following:
Macular Degeneration Treatment
Treatment may be what stands between you and vision loss. While you will likely never lose your peripheral vision with AMD, your central vision is at risk. With dry macular degeneration, such vision loss may take several years. But with the wet form, this may occur over a few months unless you promptly undergo treatment.
If you have the wet form, youcan be treatedwith anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections. These can help to keep abnormal new blood vessels from developing. But the vision already lost may come back minimally or may not come back at all.
Another possible treatment is photodynamic therapy. With this, your ophthalmologist injects into your arm a light-sensitive medicine. This collects in abnormal blood vessels in the eye. Then they use a laser to seal any abnormal blood vessels in your retina.
There have been attempts at submacular surgery where the idea was to remove any abnormal blood vessels near the macula. But this has yet to prove very successful.
Unfortunately, if you have dry AMD, there isno way to stop or reverse it, but clinical trials are assessing treatments that may become available. Two injected medications, called Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) and Syfovre (pegcetacoplan), have been approved to slow the progress of geographic atrophy. You can also learn to better use what vision you have with low-vision devices and vision rehab services.
A specific vitamin and mineral supplement calledAREDS 2 formula, developed and tested in clinical studies, may helpslow the progression of dry AMD.Talk to your healthcare provider to discuss whether this supplement is right for you.
How Dry AMD Progresses to Wet AMD
While dry AMD progresses much more slowly than wet AMD, the catch is that this condition can suddenlychange into the wet format any point. This occurs when new abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula, leak, and cause damage.
This conversion only happens in 10% to 15% of people. When it does, the switch to wet AMD usually occurs late in the condition.
These stages usually occur before it wet AMD is noted:
What you do may impact whether your dry AMD progresses to the wet form. Lifestyle factors that may contribute here include eating foods high in saturated fat, being overweight, smoking, and having high blood pressure.
Can You Prevent Macular Degeneration?
If you implement lifestyle triggers linked to AMD, such as quitting or never starting smoking or lowering your cholesterol, you may be able tokeep AMD at bay.
In addition to modifying your lifestyle, some studies indicate that taking supplements or eating foods high in vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper can also help keep AMD from progressing to the later stages.
Sun ProtectionProtection from exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun is important to preserving eye health, including reducing damage leading to AMD.Limit exposure, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also, wear a wide-brimmed hat and ultraviolet-screening sunglasses. The best sunglasses are large and wrap around the sides of the face.
Sun Protection
Protection from exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun is important to preserving eye health, including reducing damage leading to AMD.Limit exposure, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also, wear a wide-brimmed hat and ultraviolet-screening sunglasses. The best sunglasses are large and wrap around the sides of the face.
Living With Macular Degeneration
Unfortunately, once you lose vision due to AMD, it cannot be reversed. As soon as you are diagnosed with AMD and are having functional vision difficulties, you should be referred to alow-vision specialistfor a low-vision exam. A low-vision exam is different from your regular eye exam.
A low-vision specialist can help you to maximize the vision that you do have with the aid ofdevices that can magnifythings you need to see. While you may not be able to do everything you used to,such as driving, you can continue many daily activities.
Can Macular Degeneration Cause Visual Hallucinations?
While there is no cure for AMD, thepush for sight-saving new treatments continues. These run the gamut from retinal cell transplants to gene therapy to chip implants to simulate vision. All this means that for those contending with this condition, the outlook has never been better.
If you have been diagnosed with AMD, see a low-vision specialist for vision rehabilitation to maximize your remaining sight.
19 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?National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing macular degeneration.American Macular Degeneration Foundation.What is macular degeneration?Age-related macular degeneration: diagnosis and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2018 Jan. (NICE Guideline, No. 82.)American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Junk food may be bad for your eye sight.Li Y, Wang J, Zhong X, Tian Z, Wu P, Zhao W, Jin C.Refractive error and risk of early or late age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS One. 2014;9(3):e90897. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090897Lambert NG, ElShelmani H, Singh MK, Mansergh FC, Wride MA, Padilla M, Keegan D, Hogg RE, Ambati BK.Risk factors and biomarkers of age-related macular degeneration.Prog Retin Eye Res. 2016;54:64-102. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2016.04.003Heesterbeek 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.12675National Institute of Health.The genetics of age-related macular degeneration.Foundation Fighting Blindness.Stargardt disease.The American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Diagnosing age-related macular degeneration.Gorusupudi A, Nelson K, Bernstein PS.The Age-Related Eye Disease 2 study: micronutrients in the treatment of macular degeneration.Adv Nutr. 2017;8(1):40-53. doi:10.3945/an.116.013177American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Types and stages of macular degeneration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Learn about age-related macular degeneration.Chawda D, Shinde P.Effects of solar radiation on the eyes.Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30857. doi:10.7759/cureus.30857Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to protect your eyes from UV damage.Bright Focus Foundation.Living with macular degeneration.Bright Focus Foundation.Age-related macular degeneration facts and figures.
19 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?National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing macular degeneration.American Macular Degeneration Foundation.What is macular degeneration?Age-related macular degeneration: diagnosis and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2018 Jan. (NICE Guideline, No. 82.)American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Junk food may be bad for your eye sight.Li Y, Wang J, Zhong X, Tian Z, Wu P, Zhao W, Jin C.Refractive error and risk of early or late age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS One. 2014;9(3):e90897. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090897Lambert NG, ElShelmani H, Singh MK, Mansergh FC, Wride MA, Padilla M, Keegan D, Hogg RE, Ambati BK.Risk factors and biomarkers of age-related macular degeneration.Prog Retin Eye Res. 2016;54:64-102. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2016.04.003Heesterbeek 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.12675National Institute of Health.The genetics of age-related macular degeneration.Foundation Fighting Blindness.Stargardt disease.The American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Diagnosing age-related macular degeneration.Gorusupudi A, Nelson K, Bernstein PS.The Age-Related Eye Disease 2 study: micronutrients in the treatment of macular degeneration.Adv Nutr. 2017;8(1):40-53. doi:10.3945/an.116.013177American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Types and stages of macular degeneration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Learn about age-related macular degeneration.Chawda D, Shinde P.Effects of solar radiation on the eyes.Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30857. doi:10.7759/cureus.30857Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to protect your eyes from UV damage.Bright Focus Foundation.Living with macular degeneration.Bright Focus Foundation.Age-related macular degeneration facts and figures.
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?National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing macular degeneration.American Macular Degeneration Foundation.What is macular degeneration?Age-related macular degeneration: diagnosis and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2018 Jan. (NICE Guideline, No. 82.)American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Junk food may be bad for your eye sight.Li Y, Wang J, Zhong X, Tian Z, Wu P, Zhao W, Jin C.Refractive error and risk of early or late age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS One. 2014;9(3):e90897. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090897Lambert NG, ElShelmani H, Singh MK, Mansergh FC, Wride MA, Padilla M, Keegan D, Hogg RE, Ambati BK.Risk factors and biomarkers of age-related macular degeneration.Prog Retin Eye Res. 2016;54:64-102. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2016.04.003Heesterbeek 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.12675National Institute of Health.The genetics of age-related macular degeneration.Foundation Fighting Blindness.Stargardt disease.The American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Diagnosing age-related macular degeneration.Gorusupudi A, Nelson K, Bernstein PS.The Age-Related Eye Disease 2 study: micronutrients in the treatment of macular degeneration.Adv Nutr. 2017;8(1):40-53. doi:10.3945/an.116.013177American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Types and stages of macular degeneration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Learn about age-related macular degeneration.Chawda D, Shinde P.Effects of solar radiation on the eyes.Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30857. doi:10.7759/cureus.30857Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to protect your eyes from UV damage.Bright Focus Foundation.Living with macular degeneration.Bright Focus Foundation.Age-related macular degeneration facts and figures.
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NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing macular degeneration.
American Macular Degeneration Foundation.What is macular degeneration?
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American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Junk food may be bad for your eye sight.
Li Y, Wang J, Zhong X, Tian Z, Wu P, Zhao W, Jin C.Refractive error and risk of early or late age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS One. 2014;9(3):e90897. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090897
Lambert NG, ElShelmani H, Singh MK, Mansergh FC, Wride MA, Padilla M, Keegan D, Hogg RE, Ambati BK.Risk factors and biomarkers of age-related macular degeneration.Prog Retin Eye Res. 2016;54:64-102. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2016.04.003
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
National Institute of Health.The genetics of age-related macular degeneration.
Foundation Fighting Blindness.Stargardt disease.
The American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Diagnosing age-related macular degeneration.
Gorusupudi A, Nelson K, Bernstein PS.The Age-Related Eye Disease 2 study: micronutrients in the treatment of macular degeneration.Adv Nutr. 2017;8(1):40-53. doi:10.3945/an.116.013177
American Macular Degeneration Foundation.Types and stages of macular degeneration.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Learn about age-related macular degeneration.
Chawda D, Shinde P.Effects of solar radiation on the eyes.Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30857. doi:10.7759/cureus.30857
Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to protect your eyes from UV damage.
Bright Focus Foundation.Living with macular degeneration.
Bright Focus Foundation.Age-related macular degeneration facts and figures.
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