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Age-related macular degeneration,
or AMD, is the leading cause of vision loss
in people over 65.
If you are diagnosed with AMD,
it is important to understand this condition
and learn what you can do to help preserve your vision.
First, to understand how AMD affects your vision,
it's important to understand how the eye works.
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Light rays enter the eye
through the cornea, pupil, and lens.
These light rays are focused on the retina,
the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye.
The retina has two areas, the peripheral retina,
which gives us our side or wide angle vision,
and the macula, the small area at the center of the retina.
The macula gives us our pinpoint vision,
allowing us to see detail clearly.
Age-related macular degeneration,
or AMD, is a breakdown of the macula.
When the macula doesn't work properly,
your central vision can be affected
by blurriness, dark areas, or distortion.
We see this condition affecting many people as they age.
There are two forms of AMD,
one is the atrophic, or dry form,
the other is the exudative, or wet form.
About 90% of people who get AMD have the dry form.
The retina is made up of many layers
that are sandwiched together into a smooth surface.
These layers work together, allowing us to see clearly.
In people with dry AMD, the layer under the retina
known as the retinal pigment epithelium, or RPE,
is affected by deposits called drusen
as well as other age-related changes.
These changes may cause vision to get worse over time.
Many people develop dry AMD as they age
and don't realize it until it's found
during an eye exam.
In a number of cases, it is very mild
and may not cause any symptoms.
However, the disease can get progressively worse,
which is when people may notice their vision deteriorating.
Some people, usually those who have
intermediate AMD in both eyes
or advanced AMD in one eye
are at a higher risk for developing later stage
or wet macular degeneration.
Wet AMD is where abnormal blood vessels grow
under the macula and leak fluid or blood,
severely affecting vision.
There is no treatment yet for the dry form
of macular degeneration.
However, the latest scientific studies show
that taking certain dietary supplements
may keep AMD from getting worse
in those people with early or mid-stage disease.
The supplements found to be helpful for dry AMD
include very specific amounts of vitamin C,
vitamin E, lutein, and zeaxanthin
along with the mineral zinc.
Your ophthalmologist can tell you
if you're at risk for developing advanced AMD,
and if supplements are recommended for you.
At any stage of AMD,
ophthalmologists urge their patients
to closely monitor their vision every day
for any signs of changes.
A basic yet important tool for monitoring your vision
is called an Amsler grid.
You can use it at home to detect changes
in your central field of vision.
You simply cover one eye and look directly
at the center point of the grid,
but observe the vertical and horizontal lines
in your side or peripheral vision,
then do the same with the other eye.
Typically, vision problems due to AMD
would cause some of the straight lines
to appear wavy or blurry
or areas to appear dark or even blank.
If you notice any new changes in the grid,
you should contact your ophthalmologist promptly.
Be sure to keep all scheduled appointments
with your ophthalmologist.
Also, if you notice any changes in your vision,
you should call your ophthalmologist right away.
Monitoring your vision is a vital step
toward the goal of preserving your sight.
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