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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a retinal disease that causes vision loss in patients as young as age 50 but most commonly over 65 years of age. AMD is primarily caused by damage to a spot in the retina called the macula. This spot is important for visual acuity because it has plenty of visual receptors.
Because AMD damages this visually sensitive part of the eye, patients experience progressive loss of sight in the central area of the visual field and may advance to irreversible vision loss and blindness if not treated quickly.
The main cause of AMD is degeneration of the retinal arteries. As the body ages, these arteries harden and reduce the proportion of nutrients and oxygen delivered to the retinal cells, causing the cells to ultimately become weak and die.
Risk factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration include:
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There are two types of AMD:
1). Dry AMD
2). Wet/neovascular AMD
Dry AMD is more common, and wet AMD also called neovascular AMD is less common but causes more severe visual impairments.
Dry AMD develops in an earlier stage of the disease. During this stage, the macula thins and your eye doctor may note pigment changes during an eye examination due to the accumulation of waste material. Dry AMD is associated with mild or moderate visual impairment, but may ultimately lead to atrophy of the tissue, which causes severe vision loss.
Dry AMD progresses into wet AMD in 10% of patients. In this phase of the disease, new blood vessels are formed under the macula tissue as a form of abnormal growth. Fluid and blood begin leaking into the tissue, causing irreversible damage to the retina and loss of central vision.
Early in the initial phase of dry AMD, you might not experience significant visual changes, but as the disease progresses, the following signs and symptoms may occur at any point:
There is no available cure for end-stage AMD and there is currently no way to reverse the effects of the disease. Treatment widely depends on the stage of the disease and is most commonly available in cases of dry AMD. However, moderate forms of wet AMD can also be treated.
High doses of antioxidants have shown promising results in clinical trials to prevent the progression of dry AMD. Other nutrients may also play a role, especially zinc, but also lutein, copper, vitamin E, vitamin C, and zeaxanthin.
In wet AMD, the primary goal is preventing further growth of the blood vessels. This is done using drugs such as Eyelea, Avastin, Lucentis, or Visudyne. Photodynamic Therapy can also be used in some cases.
Our knowledgeable staff is here to answer all your questions about which procedure is best for you, and ensure you have the most comfortable experience possible. Make an appointment today!
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At Texas Eye and Cataract, we know how important it is to see life with clear vision. We understand that being your best means seeing your best.
At Texas Eye and Cataract, we know how important it is to see life with clear vision. We understand that being your best means seeing your best.
