For those over age 50, this is the leading cause of vision loss.
Macular degeneration has two main types: wet and dry.
With wet macular degeneration, abnormal leaking blood vessels are the culprits leading to vision loss.
Withdry AMD, cells responsible for detailed vision begin to die off.
What Are the Early Warning Signs of Macular Degeneration?
Otherwise, some damage may be done by the time you notice that your vision is affected.
Early Symptoms
The sooner macular degeneration is detected, the better.
If macular degeneration is detected, your eye specialist will tell you how frequently follow-ups are needed.
The first symptoms can be very subtle.
Intermediate Symptoms
Even at the intermediate stage, some people with macular degeneration have no symptoms.
You may notice, for example, that you need more light to read.
How Is Macular Degeneration Diagnosed
A variety of tests can help detect macular degeneration.
Many ocular diseases, such as macular degeneration, develop later in life.
With geographic atrophy, the macula begins to deteriorate, and protein collects in the area.
Otherwise, the immune system may overreact and attack retinal cells.
The other option, Izervay (avacincaptad pegol), works by blocking another complement protein known as C5.
This slows the development of geographic atrophy.
Neither drug can reverse existing vision loss, however.
Late Wet Macular Degeneration
Two treatments can help slow wet macular degeneration.
One approach is the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections.
Anti-VEGF medication can inhibit VEGF in the area and help keep abnormal blood vessels from forming.
The procedure involves numbing the surface of the eye and injecting the drug with a small needle.
The other anti-VEGF approach involves photodynamic therapy (PDT).
A light-sensitive medication (verteporfin) is injected into your arm.
The eye doctor shines a laser light on the back of your eye, which activates the medication.
Whats the Outlook for Someone With Macular Degeneration?
Summary
With macular degeneration, identifying the condition as early as possible is important.
When present, early signs can be subtle and may appear as mild blurring or distortion.
Even subtle symptoms, as well as other concerns, should be promptly evaluated by an eye specialist.
If macular degeneration is diagnosed, treatments can help to slow disease progression and help preserve vision.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular degeneration?
Bright Focus Foundation.Macular degeneration: signs and symptoms.
Macular Disease Foundation Australia.Diagnosing AMD.
National Health Services.Symptoms age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration.
New York University Langone Health.Diagnosing macular degeneration.
Macular Degeneration.net.AMD look-alike conditions.
Macular Society.Second drug for dry AMD becomes available in the US.
National Eye Institute.Treatment for wet AMD (advanced neovascular AMD).
Bright Focus Foundation.Diagnosed with macular degeneration?
Here’s what to expect
