Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)has three stages: early, intermediate, and late stage.
Vision loss usually happens in the last stage of AMD.
However, not everyone with AMD progresses through all the stages.
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Many people with AMD do not lose their vision.
This article will go over what research has shown about the progression ofvision lossin macular degeneration.
Nitat Termmee / Getty Images
What Is AMD?
AMDis a group of long-term (chronic) degenerative eye diseases.
It’s sometimes just called macular degeneration.
AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness in the United States and in many countries around the world.
AMD affects a part of theretinacalled themacula.
The macula is an oval yellowish area near the center of the retina in the eye.
It is the part that is responsible for clear, straightforward vision.
The retina is a layer of cells that are light-sensitive.
AMD causes irreversible deterioration, which can cause visual distortions and can eventually lead to vision loss.
When providers do an exam, they often see small yellow deposits calleddrusenwhich are a normal part of aging.
The timeline of vision loss in AMD goes through several stages.
How fast you progress depends on the pop in of AMD you have.
Wet vs. Dry AMD
There are two forms of AMD: wet and dry.
Understanding the stages of AMD will help you understand how the disease can progress.
Will I Lose My Sight From AMD?
Early-Stage AMD
Early-stage AMDinvolves medium-sized drusen deposits seen on an eye exam.
An ophthalmologist can often detect drusen long before symptoms start.
AMD usually begins when someone is around age 55 or older.
More recent research has suggested that certain characteristics of the drusen might be also linked to more advanced AMD.
Pigment changesalso calledretinal pigment epithelium(RPE) disturbancescan lead to vision loss.
Studies have shown that RPE is where AMD starts to occur.
The function of the RPE is to absorb light and transport nutrients to the retinal cells.
Symptoms that commonly occur during the intermediate stage of AMD may include subtle changes in vision.
However, many people at this stage do not have symptoms.
If large drusen are present in both eyes, the chances of developing late-stage AMD increase to 26%.
Late-Stage AMD
Late-stage AMD involves either the wet form of AMD or dry AMD.
In the late stage, either form of AMD causes distortion of vision and/or vision loss.
When central vision loss begins, objects may appear distorted or blurry at first.
In the late stage of the disease, you may no longer be able to recognize faces.
Although you may still have your side vision, you might be consideredlegally blindat this point.
Important steps to take after a diagnosis of late-stage AMD include:
How Does Late-Stage AMD Progress?
In a small percentage of cases, dry AMD can progress to wet AMD.
According to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, about 10% of all cases ofage-related macular degenerationbecome wet AMD.
Typically, a person has dry AMD first which progresses to wet.
Wet AMD usually progresses quickly and vision loss can occur within days if it’s not untreated.
That’s why it’s important to have your eyes checked frequently and to perform home screenings.
There are several stages of AMD.
How fast you will move through the stages depends on many factors.
There are steps you’re free to take at each stage of AMD.
Know that you may not lose your vision.
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