Our goal is to advance scientific understanding of macular diseases, in particular age-related macular degeneration – and ultimately develop new treatments to prevent vision loss.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the top cause of vision loss in people over 50. Dry AMD can lead to gradual visual impairment, while wet AMD tends to cause rapid vision loss. People with AMD lose their central vision and can’t see things directly in front of them. AMD doesn’t cause total blindness, but it can greatly affect everyday life.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that affects central vision. People with AMD can’t see people or things directly in front of them. This common age-related eye problem occurs in people over the age of 50. AMD affects the macula, the back part of the retina that controls central vision. People with AMD aren’t completely blind. Their peripheral vision (ability to see things off to the sides) is fine. AMD may develop in one eye or both eyes. More than 10 million Americans have macular degeneration. It’s the leading cause of vision loss. The disease affects more people than cataracts and glaucoma combined. As the name implies, age-related macular degeneration is more likely to occur as you get older. Other risk factors include: There are two types of AMD:
AMD occurs in three stages. Often, symptoms like vision loss aren’t evident until the late stage.
AMD is a type of inherited eye disease. However, the disease also develops in people with no family history of the disease. AMD occurs when the macula at the back of the eye starts to deteriorate for unknown reasons. The macula helps send images from the eye’s optic nerve to the brain. If you have a damaged macula, your brain can’t understand or read the images that your eyes see. Many people with age-related macular degeneration don’t have symptoms until the disease progresses. You may experience:
Because AMD rarely causes symptoms in its early stages, annual eye examinations are key to detecting the disease and starting treatments when they’re most effective. During an eye exam, your eye healthcare provider checks for changes to the retina and macula. You may get one or more of these tests:
AMD isn’t curable. Starting treatments early can slow disease progression and reduce the severity of symptoms. Even with successful treatments, AMD symptoms often return. Depending on the disease type, treatments include:
Treatments for wet AMD carry some risk of complications including:
Losing your central vision can make it challenging to do certain tasks. Depending on the extent of vision impairment, you may not be able to read well, recognize faces, drive, cook or do home repairs. If AMD is severe, you may be considered legally blind. These changes can lead to depression and anxiety. Some people with AMD experience Charles Bonnet syndrome, a condition that causes visual hallucinations.
Not everyone who has AMD experiences significant vision loss. With dry AMD, vision loss can happen slowly and take a long time to occur. Because the condition can affect just one eye, you may not notice any change in vision. Sometimes, vision loss is so severe that you’re considered legally blind. To see better, you might:
You should call your healthcare provider if you have age-related macular degeneration and experience: What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?If you have age-related macular degeneration, you may want to ask your healthcare provider:
A note from Cleveland Clinic Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. Although AMD doesn’t cause complete blindness, the loss of central vision can make it harder to do everyday tasks. Dry AMD, a condition that causes gradual vision loss, is the most common form. Taking nutritional supplements may slow the disease. Wet AMD can cause rapid vision loss and may lead to legal blindness. Your eye doctor can offer treatments that may help preserve vision. You also may benefit from wearing eyeglasses or using magnifying devices to read.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/21/2020. References
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy |