Also called AMD or age-related macular degeneration, it is more common with age, particularlyover age 65.
There are different types of macular degeneration, includingdry macular degenerationandwet macular degeneration.
The macula is responsible for your central vision.
Verywell / Shideh Ghandeharizadeh
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.
If it causes vision loss, it is late-stage AMD.
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.
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.
If you have wet macular degeneration, you may have to monitor it with something called an Amsler grid.
AnAmsler gridis a key in 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.
It is also called juvenile macular degeneration or Stargardt muscular dystrophy.
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.
An inherited form, Stargardt disease, is less common and can affect people at an earlier age.
It can lead to loss of vision.
verify to return for those regular eye exams or treatment appointments.
Vision loss with wet macular degeneration can happen more quickly, even causing vision changes within days or weeks.
Your eye doctor may also recommend using a vitamin formula calledAREDS2.
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.
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?
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.
