Macular Degeneration

The retina is at the back of the eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. A part of the retina called the macula makes vision sharper and more detailed. AMD is caused by damage to the blood vessels that supply the macula. This change also harms the macula.

Macular degeneration slowly destroys sharp, central vision. This makes it difficult to see fine details and read. The disease is most common in people over age 60, which is why it is often called age-related macular degeneration (ARMD, or AMD).

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There are two types of Age-Related Macular Degeneration:

• Dry AMD occurs when the blood vessels under the macula become thin and brittle. Small yellow deposits, called drusen, form. Almost all people with macular degeneration start with the dry form.
• Wet AMD occurs in only about 10% of people with macular degeneration. New abnormal and very fragile blood vessels grow under the macula. This is called choroidal neovascularization. These vessels leak blood and fluid. This form causes most of the vision loss associated with the condition.

Scientists are not sure what causes AMD. The condition is rare before age 55. It is most often seen in adults 75 years or older. In addition to heredity, other risk factors are: Caucasian race, cigarette smoking, high-fat diet, female gender, obesity.

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Learn more:

• American Macular Degeneration Foundation: https://www.macular.org/what-macular-degeneration
• National Eye Institute: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration
• University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center: https://www.umkelloggeye.org/conditions-treatments/age-related-macular-degeneration
• Web MD: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/macular-degeneration/ss/slideshow-macular-degeneration