Age-related macular degeneration is a progressive eye disease that slowly deteriorates vision. It wears down the macula and can cause low vision. Low vision is a condition that contact lenses, glasses, surgery, or medicine cannot correct. It has no early warning signs and may lead to blindness. 

The central portion of the retina, or macula, controls your straight-ahead vision. It allows you to see faces, drive, or read. Age-related macular degeneration makes it very hard to go about your everyday activities.

How AMD Affects Sight

AMD makes images appear blurry. It also causes dark spots to appear. With time, the blur and dark spots progressively increase. The disorder distorts straight lines, making them appear curvy. Colors become less vivid or darker than before. It is harder to recognize people’s faces, drive, read, or write. 

However, your peripheral vision may remain intact. It allows you to do some of your day-to-day activities. 

Types and Stages of AMD

There are two primary types of AMD, each with a different cause. These include dry AMD and wet AMD.

Dry AMD

Dry AMD is the most common type of macular degeneration and affects about 80% of people with AMD. Genetics and environmental factors play a role in this type of AMD. However, the macula gets thinner with age. The atrophy of the macula earns it the name, atrophic AMD. 

It happens one eye at a time. The light-sensitive cells of the macula progressively wear down. Vision loss is gradual, and there are no early warning signs. It happens in three stages—early, intermediate, and late. 

It may take several years to progress through the condition before it gets to the late stage. However, there are ways that you may make the most of your remaining vision. There is no treatment for late dry AMD.

Wet AMD

This type of AMD is less common. But unlike dry AMD, it leads to severe vision loss. It happens when abnormal and weaker blood vessels grow beneath the retina. They leak blood and fluid into the eye. The blood vessels and the bleeding form a scar, eventually causing the loss of central vision.

Symptoms of AMD

The early stages of AMD have no symptoms. But some people may notice mild blurriness and distortion of straight lines. You may also notice a blurry area at the center of your vision. The blurry area may increase with time, making it difficult to see during low lighting. When you notice straight lines distort, it is a warning of late AMD.

Causes of AMD

Doctors do not know the exact cause of AMD. However, your risk of getting it increases as you grow older. It is also higher in people who smoke, have a family history of AMD, and have high blood pressure. 

You can lower your risk of getting AMD by exercising, eating healthy, and quitting smoking. If you know that you have a family history of the disease, you need regular checkups.

For more information on AMD, visit Clarity Vision at our offices in Apex, Clayton, Holly Springs, Smithfield, Williamston, North Carolina, or Suffolk, Virginia. You can call (919) 367-2832, (919) 550-4801, (919) 646-2900, (919) 737-7200, (252) 792-2250, or (757) 638-2015 today to schedule an appointment.