Age-related Macular degeneration (AMD), along with cataracts and glaucoma, are disorders of the eye. They can drastically worsen vision, thus can negatively impact your quality of life. As our aging population increases, it is of the utmost importance to understand how their vision and daily living can be impacted and how AMD and other conditions can be prevented and cared for.
AMD has a prevalence of 190 million people worldwide, and is a leading cause of blindness in the center of your field of vision. Furthermore, AMD is is a main cause of central blindness in younger and middle-aged adults. Although glaucoma and cataracts constitute a higher percentage of blindness cases, especially in older adults, macular degeneration is not far behind them. Additionally, AMD has five genetic mutations associated with an increased risk, which can make AMD run within your family.
AMD risk factors other than genetics include UV exposure (such as from sunlight or UV tanning beds), smoking, age, high blood pressure, and obesity.
AMD occurs when the macula degrades within the eye causing cell debris to float in the retina. AMD can cause bleeding below the retina in “wet” cases. Symptoms include blurry or fuzzy vision, a blind spot in the center of your visual field, and problems with facial recognition. Central field vision loss is especially concerning because of central vision’s importance in doing work up close, driving, reading, and facial recognition.
Currently, the only treatments available for “dry” (non-bleeding) AMD are visual therapies to rebuild skills. Most AMD cases are dry and it is very rare for a dry case to become wet. For wet AMD, injections of medications that stop growth of blood vessels in the eye are a common treatment. This is done to target vessels causing the bleed. The medication used is an “anti-VEGF” factor which stops the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor protein from functioning.
Speak to an optometrist (OD) or an ophthalmologist (MD or DO) about AMD if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
Image from the National Institute of Health
Bibliography:
Johns Hopkins Medicine contributors. “Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).” Www.hopkinsmedicine.org, Johns Hopkins University, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/agerelated-macular-degeneration-amd#:~:text=Age%2Drelated%20macular%20degeneration%20(AMD)%20is%20a%20disease%20that.
Mather, Mark, and Paola Scommegna. “Fact Sheet: Aging in the United States.” PRB, Population Reference Bureau, 9 Jan. 2024, www.prb.org/resources/fact-sheet-aging-in-the-united-states/#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20Americans%20ages.
Turbert, David. “Vision Loss, Central.” American Academy of Ophthalmology Eyesmart, American Academy of Opthamology, 13 Jan. 2021, www.aao.org/eye-health/symptoms/vision-loss-central#:~:text=Central%20vision%20loss%20is%20the.
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