Protecting Your Vision: What You Need to Know about Macular Degeneration

According to the National Eye Institute, about 11 million people in the United States have age-related macular degeneration (AMD). There are different types of AMD, and the condition progresses in stages, so the best treatment depends on the type and stage you have.

At Cataract & Vision Center of Hawaii, our staff and providers want to help you enjoy the best vision possible for as long as you can. We screen for macular degeneration because the sooner you get treatment, the less likely it is you are to lose your central vision.

Your macula

The macula is an area within your retina. It helps you process images in your central vision like things in front of you. For example, you can see the face of a person sitting across from you at a table thanks to your macula. Similarly, you can read the words on a page in a book you’re holding because of your macula.

Many different conditions can affect your macula, but one of the most common problems is called age-related macular degeneration, which is often called AMD.

Types of AMD

Generally, there are two types of AMD, wet AMD and dry AMD. Around 80% of people with AMD have dry AMD, while about 20% have wet AMD. There’s a third disease called Stargardt disease which affects children and though the loss of vision is similar, the causes and treatments are different.

Dry AMD

With dry AMD, the parts of your macula become thinner over time, and deposits made up of lipids and proteins, called drusen, build up.

Wet AMD

With wet AMD, new, abnormal blood vessels form beneath your retina. Sometimes these vessels leak and scar your macula. Vision loss happens faster in people who have wet AMD than in people who have dry AMD.

Stages of AMD

Regardless of the type of AMD you have, it moves through four different stages. The earlier you get treatment, the better the chance we have of protecting your vision.

Subclinical AMD

Before your doctor can detect any change to your macula, you may begin losing your ability to see in the dark. Most people lose the ability to adapt to dark conditions with age, but if you have AMD, it’s more pronounced.

Early AMD

At this stage, you still don’t have any symptoms. In other words, you can’t tell any difference in your vision. However, during an eye exam, your doctor can see drusen forming.

Intermediate AMD

You may begin to lose vision at this stage, but it happens so slowly that you may not realize it. During an exam, drusen is detectable, and possibly pigment changes in your retina.

Late AMD

Vision loss is noticeable during the late stage of AMD.

Reducing your risk of AMD

Age is the main risk factor for AMD, and you can’t do anything about time passing. But, there are other risks that you can control, including:

Smoking: If you smoke, you’re twice as likely to develop AMD
Diet: A diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol increases your risk, and speeds up the progression of AMD
Hypertension: If you have high blood pressure, you have a greater risk of AMD

The most important way to limit vision loss due to AMD is to have regular eye exams. Medications are available to slow the progression of dry AMD and delay vision loss. Making specific changes to your diet and taking nutritional supplements may also be helpful.

A class of medications called Anti-VEGF drugs can help treat wet AMD. Laser surgery may also be an option in some cases of wet AMD.

Do you have questions about your personal risk of AMD? Or is it time for your regular eye exam? Make an appointment at Cataract & Vision Center of Hawaii today.