ARMD Info

The following information is based on a current review of the literature and it is updated on a regular basis. We tailor our treatment plan to each individual. You should be able to find a treatment plan that we discussed with you below.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a medical condition usually of older adults which results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field. Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although enough peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily life.

Age-related macular degeneration begins with characteristic yellow deposits in the macula. Most people with these early changes have good vision, but people with drusen are at risk to develop advanced AMD. The risk is considerably higher when the drusen are large and numerous and associated with disturbance in the pigmented cell layer under the macula.

Advanced AMD, which is responsible for profound vision loss but never total blindness, has two forms: dry and wet. Central geographic atrophy, the dry form of advanced AMD, results from atrophy to the retinal pigment epithelial layer which causes vision loss in the central part of the eye. While no treatment is available for this condition, vitamin supplements with high doses of antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, have been demonstrated by the National Eye Institute and others to slow the progression of dry macular degeneration and improve visual acuity in some patients.

Exudative AMD, the wet form of advanced AMD, causes vision loss due to abnormal blood vessel growth, ultimately leading to blood and protein leakage below the macula. Bleeding, leaking, and scarring from these blood vessels eventually cause irreversible damage and rapid vision loss if left untreated. Wet AMD is treated with Avastin injections and focal laser therapy.

Risk factors

Aging: Approximately 10% of patients 66 to 74 years of age will have findings of macular degeneration. The prevalence increases to 30% in patients 75 to 85 years of age.

Family history:

The lifetime risk of developing late-stage macular degeneration is 50% for people who have a relative with macular degeneration, versus 12% for people who do not have relatives with macular degeneration, a fourfold higher risk.

Drusen: While there is a tendency for drusen to be blamed for the progressive loss of vision, drusen deposits can, however, be present in the retina without vision loss. Some patients with large deposits of drusen have normal visual acuity.

Hypertension: Also known as high blood pressure.

Cardiovascular status: high cholesterol, obesity.

High fat intake is associated with an increased risk of macular degeneration in both women and men. Eating more cold-water fish (at least twice weekly), rather than red meats, and eating any type of nuts may help macular degeneration patients.

Race Macular degeneration is more likely to be found in Caucasians than in African-Americans.

Exposure to sunlight

Symptoms

Blurred vision: Those with nonexudative macular degeneration may a gradual loss of central vision, whereas those with exudative macular degeneration often notice a rapid onset of vision loss.

Central scotomas: shadows or missing areas of vision

Distorted vision: A grid of straight lines appears wavy and parts of the grid may appear blank. Patients often first notice this when looking at mini-blinds in their home.

Trouble discerning colors: specifically dark ones from dark ones and light ones from light ones.