Aged macular degeneration

What is aged macular degeneration?

Aged macular degeneration (AMD), or age-related macular degeneration, is a condition that affects the macula, which is the centre of the retina. The macula has cells that can detect light and send signals to the optic nerve.

Degeneration of the macula can trigger two forms of vision loss: atrophic, which is a dry form, and exudative, which is a wet form. Both kinds lead to blurred vision. Aged macular degeneration affects the sharpness of your central vision, which is mainly used for activities requiring detail and focus, like reading and driving.

AMD develops naturally as we age. AMD leads to permanent central vision loss of differing degrees, as in it is non-reversible. If you suffer from AMD, it can be difficult to concentrate while doing tasks that require focus.

The likelihood of developing AMD may be reduced by limiting contact with ultraviolet rays by using specially designed glasses or contact lenses.

Who is at risk of aged macular degeneration?

The concern with AMD is its increased occurrence with age. Although the exact reason for this is not clear, there are some risk factors. People who smoke, who have high blood pressure, who are overweight, and those who have a family history of AMD may have an increased chance of developing AMD.

Stages of aged macular degeneration (AMD)

Early stage: Early AMD is identified by some drusen (yellow spots) under the retina. This stage often goes unnoticed, as at this point most people don't experience vision loss.
Intermediate stage: This is the stage when loss of vision starts occurring, but it may not be noticeable yet. To be able to identify AMD at an early stage, regular eye examinations are recommended.
Lateral stage: A clear loss of vision is experienced at this stage.

Types of aged macular degeneration (AMD)

The two types of aged macular degeneration are described below.

Wet (exudative) aged macular degeneration

Also known as wet senile macular degeneration, this can occur due to leakage of the fragile blood vessels in the choroid (the layer immediately inside the retina), known as choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Wet macular degeneration is triggered when new abnormal blood vessels start growing from the choroid into the macula.

These new vessels are delicate and may leak blood or other fluids. These fluids can cause the macula to be displaced and get in the way of the retina, resulting in blurred vision. However, this situation is rare.

If one of your eyes has developed wet AMD, then the other eye is at higher risk to develop wet AMD as well. Wet AMD does not have varying stages like dry AMD but tends to result in more significant vision loss.

Dry (atrophic) macular degeneration

Also known as dry senile macular degeneration, dry AMD can develop due to the gradual deterioration of the macula cells. It causes a blind spot in the centre of your vision and reduces the functioning of the macula.

This is the more common form of aged macular degeneration. The condition gets worse due to the drusen (yellow deposits under the retina). As the amount of drusen grow, the dry form of macular degeneration progresses from early, to intermediate, and then to the advanced stage.

At this stage you would notice retina damage and vision loss. People suffering from the dry form of AMD can be more likely to develop the wet form of AMD.

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