How AMD Impacts Quality of Vision
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that impacts a person’s ability to see clearly. At her office in Chester, Dr. Niki Silverstein provides the latest treatments to helps patients with this condition to preserve their sight. Though scientists have not yet found a way to reverse AMD, they have developed treatments that may help to slow the progression. People with AMD can learn to maximize the vision that they do have.
Symptoms of AMD
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AMD occurs when the macula in the eye becomes damaged. The macula is responsible for central vision and helping people to see fine details. As it deteriorates, vision becomes blurred and eventually people have trouble completing tasks that require central vision. This can have an impact on their quality of life. They must learn to adapt and rely more heavily on their side vision. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.8 million people are diagnosed with AMD.
AMD is divided into two types: wet and dry. Between 85 and 90 percent of people with this condition have the dry form. It is less severe but can eventually lead to the wet form. The wet form typically progresses quickly and can lead to a more significant impact on a person’s vision.
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Dry AMD
This form of the disease occurs as people get older and their macular tissue begins to thin. They develop yellow spots on and around the macula. This can result in their central vision slowly beginning to deteriorate. It is often gradual at first but as it progresses it becomes more noticeable. Over time they may begin to have more difficulty completing tasks such as driving, reading, and other activities that rely on central vision.
Symptoms of dry AMD include:
· Blurred vision when looking at print
· Hazy vision
· Colors appear less vibrant
· Blurriness in central vision
· Difficulty recognizing faces
· Trouble seeing in dimly lit environments
Wet AMD
In some people dry AMD may progress and develop into wet AMD. During this stage of the disease the eye begins to develop new blood vessels beneath the macula. When these blood vessels break, they leak fluid and blood impairing central vision further and even causing blind spots. In addition, straight lines may appear wavy or curved and images are distorted.
Risk Factors
AMD can affect one or both eyes. Some people begin with it in one eye and develop it later on in the other. As people age and their eyes naturally begin to deteriorate, they are at increased risk of developing AMD. There are also hereditary risks as genetics may play a role in the disease. Dr. Silverstein notes that current research is finding that the gene variant complement factor H is linked to nearly half of all blinding cases of macular degeneration. In addition, the disease is more common among females than males, and in Caucasians over other races. Other contributing factors may include:
· Smoking
· Obesity
· High blood pressure
· Lighter eye color
· Certain medications
Treatment Options
“Although doctors are not yet able to reverse the damage caused by age-related macular degeneration,” says Dr. Niki Silverstein, “there are ways that they can help patients to preserve their vision. Through proper treatment they can work to slow the progression and more effectively manage the condition.”
With routine eye exams doctors are able to detect AMD in its earlier stages. This allows them to begin treatment sooner and possibly preserve more of the patient’s vision. It is essential for people to seek medical treatment as soon as they notice changes in their eyesight.
For more on treatment options, see Part 2 coming next week in this blog.
If you can't see well please see a physician. Niki A. Silverstein is a board-certified ophthalmologist with a practice at 408 Main Street in Chester, NJ, 908-879-7297. For more information please call or visit www.SilversteinEye.com.
