AMD, age related macular degeneration, afflicts over 10 million people in the U.S., according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The older a person becomes, the more likely he is to experience AMD; for people over 60, the disease is the leading cause of vision loss.
Types
There are two types of AMD, wet and dry. Dry macular degeneration is more common, making up about 85 to 90 percent of all cases, according to All About Vision. Dry AMD is the result of a gradual breakdown of the macula, the light-sensitive area at the middle of the retina. With dry AMD, afflicted individuals slowly develop a blurry spot at the center of their vision that grows to encompass more and more of the field of vision. They also tend to develop yellow spots called drusen under the retina. Wet macular degeneration, also called neovascular macular degeneration, occurs when new blood vessels grow in the macula where they shouldn't be. It is more serious than dry AMD and leads to more rapid and severe vision loss. Often, patients with wet AMD had the dry form first.
Symptoms
The symptoms of dry AMD involve a gradual, painless loss of central vision. This often manifests as a growing difficulty adapting to low light, increasing blurriness of vision, finding colors less vivid and noticing a blind spot in the center of the visual field. Wet AMD comes on suddenly, and people with the disorder often first notice that straight lines become wavy. A blind spot or diminishing central vision may also occur with wet AMD.
Risk Factors
The main risk factor for age related macular degeneration is, as the name implies, aging, with those over 60 being most at risk. A family history of AMD is another risk factor. Whites, women and those with light-colored eyes tend to develop AMD more often. Lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, obesity, poor nutrition and exposure to sunlight also heighten the risk of developing AMD. Cardiovascular disease, especially high blood pressure, may also be a contributing factor.
Treatment
Dry AMD has no cure, but some nutrients may slow its progression to the more severe wet AMD. Vitamins A, C and E, zinc, copper, zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids and lutein have all been linked to a slowdown of AMD. Drugs injected into the eye that stop blood vessel growth are used to halt the progression of wet AMD. Laser surgery and photodynamic surgery also can be used to treat wet AMD by sealing off blood vessels growing into the macula.
Prevention
The same nutrients that may halt the progression of AMD can be taken to try and head off the disease before it begins. Protecting the eyes from exposure to sunlight is another important prevention measure. Regular vision screening is another important step in preventing AMD and in reducing the chances of dry AMD progressing into the wet form.
