Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness for older women and men, affecting about 20 million people in the United States and almost 200 million people worldwide. Yet, because its early symptoms can be subtle, many people don’t realize they have AMD until symptoms have become more noticeable and initial permanent vision loss has already occurred.
While there’s no cure for AMD, prompt medical intervention is essential for slowing the progression of the disease — and that means understanding AMD symptoms and your own personal risk factors. Here, the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts offers an overview of AMD, its symptoms, and its risk factors, so you can play a more proactive role in preserving your sight.
AMD affects a part of your retina called the macula. Located at the back of your eye, your retina gathers light that enters your eye, sending light data to your brain via the optic nerve. In turn, your brain “translates” that data into the images and objects you see.
The macula is the central part of your retina, and it’s responsible for clear, crisp central vision. In macular degeneration, the macula begins to deteriorate and malfunction, affecting many daily tasks we take for granted, such as reading, driving, using a computer, and even recognizing faces.
These changes usually happen gradually, with central vision slowly becoming blurrier, dimmer, or distorted in other ways. AMD doesn’t cause complete blindness — your peripheral vision remains unchanged. Still, because we depend on our central vision for so many activities, AMD can significantly affect your quality of life.
There are two primary types of AMD: dry AMD and wet AMD. Dry AMD is the more common type. In dry AMD, the cells that comprise your macula grow thin, and deposits called drusen collect under your retina, blocking normal vision.
While wet AMD is less common, it’s also much more severe. In this type of AMD, abnormal blood vessels develop and leak fluid into the retinal space. Wet AMD progresses much more rapidly and requires emergency medical attention to prevent permanent vision loss.
Age is obviously a major risk factor for AMD, but it’s not the only risk factor you need to know about. A family history of AMD also increases your own risk of developing the condition, but there are also modifiable risk factors — things you can change to lower your risk. These include:
Having AMD in one eye also increases the likelihood you’ll develop it in your other eye.
Because early AMD rarely causes obvious symptoms, many people don’t realize there’s a problem until vision loss becomes more advanced — and noticeable. That’s why routine comprehensive eye exams are essential, particularly as you age or if you have risk factors for AMD.
Regular exams allow our team to detect subtle, AMD-related changes before vision loss becomes noticeable. Early diagnosis opens the door to preventive steps, including managing those modifiable risk factors, to decrease your AMD risk and improve your eye and overall health at the same time.
Like many vision problems, AMD responds best to a proactive approach to eye care. Having regular eye exams is your best first step toward reducing your AMD risk and protecting your vision and your eyes.
To schedule your exam, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts in Bellmore and Great Neck, New York, today.
