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Macular Degeneration Diagnosis

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic eye condition. It usually affects people over the age of 50 and is the top cause of vision loss in those over 60. It is caused by degeneration of the macula and results in destruction of crisp central vision, which is used in everyday tasks such as driving and reading.

  1. The Facts

    • AMD can be detected during a routine eye exam. If you have this condition, your doctor will be able to see drusen, which are tiny yellow deposits under the retina. Your doctor may also ask you to look at a grid similar to a checkerboard. If the straight lines appear wavy to you, or if some lines seem like they're not there, you may have macular degeneration.

    Types

    • Diagnosis of macular degeneration is categorized as either wet or dry. Dry macular degeneration diagnosis is more common and is the early stage of the disease. Gradual central vision loss occurs with dry macular degeneration, but is nowhere near as severe as it is in wet macular degeneration. In dry AMD, drusen begin to build up in and around the macula. Dry macular degeneration advances to wet macular degeneration in about 10 per cent of cases. In this form, blood vessels grow under the retina and leak blood and fluid, causing permanent damage.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms usually develop painlessly and gradually. You may notice that you need increasingly bright light when reading. Printed words may begin appearing more and more blurry. There may appear to be a decrease in the brightness of colors, and you may have difficulty recognizing faces. Degeneration may occur in one eye or both. If only one eye is affected, you may not realize you have AMD because your good eye will compensate for the other one. When both eyes are affected, your vision is dramatically affected.

    Causes and Risk Factors

    • Macular degeneration is associated with aging, but there is also a genetic component to the disease. If someone in your family has been diagnosed with AMD, you are more likely to develop it as well. Smoking and obesity may put you at risk for developing this condition as you age.

    Treatment

    • Laser surgery is a treatment option for dry AMD. In this procedure, a laser is used to destroy fragile blood vessels. Photodynamic surgery is also sometimes used to treat this condition. This procedure involves injecting a drug into your arm that travels through your body and is activated by shining a light into your eyes. This treatment destroys new blood vessels and slows visual decline. Injections are also available to slow vision loss in wet AMD.

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