Macular Degeneration

AMD stands for age-related macular degeneration and is responsible for causing loss of central vision. As the name states, it is a condition common in senior citizens and is a progressive disease in the part of the retina, called the macula. Although it could end up causing blindness, that is extremely rare and most people end up having a more mild form of this condition. If you notice any subtle changes in your central vision or if you know that you’re at risk for developing AMD then make sure to book an appointment to see your eye doctor. If you experience any sudden and severe changes to your central vision then the appointment should be booked immediately.

Although this condition is considered a leading cause of blindness, the majority of people who develop AMD do not become blind. Since it’s a degenerative disease, early detection prior to severe visual loss is crucial because precautions can be taken to prevent damage (link Macular Degeneration Prevention page). Macular degeneration starts out in a less severe form called dry AMD. In this type of early stage of the disease, the person might not notice any symptoms for the first while. However, there are certain signs of this condition which the eye doctor will see when the retina is checked. The most characteristic sign of this condition is called drusen which are yellow deposits under the retina.

The good news is that if you have dry AMD then there are screenings that are readily available to check to make sure that your condition is not turning into the wet form. In addition, there are precautions such as stopping to smoke and taking a well researched supplement which can decrease your chances of progression of visual damage. If your vision has already been compromised by wet macular degeneration then there is effective treatment (link Treatment page) used to block the source of the damage in your retina.