Treatments can be used to prevent further vision loss and often lead to improvement or recovery of lost vision. Your retina specialist can direct the treatment that is best for your eyes and general health. In the wet form of AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow in a layer beneath the retina, leaking fluid and blood and creating distortion or a blind spot in the center of the vision. The wet form of AMD (called exudative) is less common (occurring in one out of 10 people with AMD), but more serious. We hope to be able to offer specific treatments soon. Significant advances are being made to stop and reverse this form of AMD. Currently there is no treatment for this form of AMD, but nutritional supplements can slow its progression. Nine out of 10 people that have AMD have the dry form (called atrophic), which results in thinning of the macula. While age and genetics may be the most significant risk factor for developing AMD, smoking, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and blue eyes have also been identified as risk factors.ĪMD accounts for 90 percent of new legal blindness in the US in those over 60 years of age. Therefore, one should have an annual dilated eye exam every year after the age of 60 and then as directed by your eye care provider.ĪMD seems to be a genetic disorder of aging. It’s important to detect AMD as early as possible. Unfortunately, symptoms do not occur until vision is affected. While peripheral (side) vision is usually unaffected, one loses the sharp, straight-ahead vision necessary for driving, reading, recognizing faces, and looking at detail. The visual symptoms of AMD involve loss or distortion of central vision. The macula is a small but important area at the center of the retina that allows us to see fine details clearly and perform activities such as reading and driving. AMD is a deterioration or breakdown of the macula.
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