Macular degeneration (MD) is an eye disorder that occurs when the tissue in the macula deteriorates. The health of the macula determines our ability to read, recognize faces, drive, watch television, use a computer, and perform any other visual task that requires us to see fine detail. This loss of detail only occurs in the central area of our visual field, and for this reason, it does not cause total blindness.
There are 2 types of macular degeneration:
Dry Macular degeneration which is very slowly progressing.
Wet Macular degeneration which progresses over a very short period of time.
The dry form is more common than the wet form, with about 85 to 90 percent of AMD patients diagnosed with dry AMD which progresses very slowly over a period of many years. Severity ranges from a total loss of central vision, whilst for some, it may only cause slight distortions. The wet form which causes a sudden loss of vision over a short time usually leads to more serious vision loss.
Your eyecare practitioner can advise you and show you how to detect and monitor the progression of MD. If you have been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, it is strongly advised that you have your eyes checked at least once a year to monitor for any changes so that your practitioner can intervene, advise, and refer if necessary.
Signs and Symptoms
Age-related macular degeneration usually produces a slow, painless loss of vision. In rare cases, however, vision loss can be sudden. Early signs of vision loss from AMD include shadowy areas in your central vision or unusually fuzzy or distorted vision. There are 2 types of Macular degeneration.
Dry macular degeneration (non-neovascular).
Dry AMD is an early stage of the disease and may result from the aging and thinning of macular tissues, depositing of pigment in the macula or a combination of the two processes. This condition is diagnosed when yellowish spots known as drusen begin to accumulate in and around the macula. It is believed these spots are deposits or debris from deteriorating tissue.Gradual central vision loss may occur with dry macular degeneration but usually is not nearly as severe as wet AMD symptoms.
Wet macular degeneration (neovascular).
In about 10 percent of cases, dry AMD progresses to the more advanced and damaging form of the eye disease. With wet macular degeneration, new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid. This leakage causes permanent damage to light-sensitive retinal cells, which die off and create blind spots in central vision. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV), the underlying process causing wet AMD and abnormal blood vessel growth, is the body's misguided way of attempting to create a new network of blood vessels to supply more nutrients and oxygen to the eye's retina. Instead, the process creates scarring, leading to sometimes severe central vision loss.
