What is macular degeneration?
The macula is part of the back of the eye (the retina) responsible for vision needed in detailed activities such as reading and writing and is also involved in our ability to appreciate colour. Sometimes the delicate cells of the macula become damaged and stop working. Macular Degeneration covers a number of conditions which affect the macula.
The most common forms of macular degeneration happen more as you get older and are known as Age Related Macular Degeneration ( AMD). Around 1 in 10 people over 65 or over show some signs of AMD.
Types of AMD
AMD can be described as being dry or wet. Dry AMD, is the most common type of AMD and occurs with age. It is the gradual degeneration of the retinal cells at the back of the eye leading to deposits on the retina called drusen. Dry AMD usually progresses slowly and people may not notice any change for many years. Most people with dry AMD have near normal vision. Currently, there is no treatment for dry AMD. However, there are some steps that you can take that may help reduce the risk of the condition from getting worse, for example ensuring a healthy diet rich in leafy greens and antioxidants, using mineral supplements, protecting your eyes from UV and stopping smoking.
Wet AMD is much less common and develops when abnormal blood vessels grow into the retina and leak. Wet AMD can cause sudden and rapid loss of central vision.
You may notice that things appear blurry or you may have difficulty reading, even with your normal reading glasses. You may also notice that you have a smudge in your central vision which does not go away, or notice that straight lines appear distorted or wavy. If you have AMD, you may notice your eyes becoming sensitive to bright light, or find it difficult to adapt when going from a dark to a light environment. You may also notice that colours seem to fade. These symptoms are more noticeable if you look for them with each eye separately. This happens because if you have both eyes open, your better eye may compensate for the other one. We recommend you regularly check your vision in each eye separately by looking at a book or magazine while covering each eye in turn. This will help you notice any changes in your vision early.
Treatment for AMD
Wet AMD can often be treated if it is caught early enough and this is normally done by injecting a drug into the gel inside your eye.
There is currently no treatment for Dry AMD in the UK although across the globe experimental treatments and clinical trials are under way. Among the options being explored are treatments to reduce the inflammation thought to lead to dry AMD. By reducing inflammation in the cells of the retina it’s hoped we can reduce the progression of damage and sight loss. The methods being investigated include injections, tablets and gene therapy.