By Mountain Pacific
February 7, 2024
Vision loss is among the top ten causes of disability in the United States. Prevent Blindness America estimates the number of people who are blind or visually impaired will double by 2030 unless corrective actions are taken. While many factors can lead to loss of vision in America, the most common cause is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). But what exactly is AMD, what are the signs and how can you protect yourself from it?
What is AMD and why is it so serious?
AMD occurs when part of the retina called the macula, which is responsible for central vision and seeing fine details, is damaged. Over time this damage slowly impairs vision, making it harder to conduct everyday activities. Twenty million Americans live with AMD, making it more common than glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy combined.
Nine out of 10 people with AMD have the less severe form, known as dry AMD. Although wet AMD is less common, it accounts for 90% of AMD vision loss. A person can develop wet AMD after being diagnosed with dry AMD. Learn more about the differences between wet and dry AMD by watching this video from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Left untreated, AMD can result in severe loss of central vision. Over time, driving, reading small print or even recognizing faces become difficult or impossible. There is good news, though! People rarely go blind from AMD, and it can be managed and treated once it is diagnosed.
What are the risk factors and signs of AMD?
The biggest risk factor for AMD is age. The likelihood of developing AMD increases as a person gets older. In fact, those 90 years and older have more than a 50% chance of developing AMD.
Other risk factors for AMD include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity and smoking. Smoking alone more than doubles the risk of AMD and is the single biggest modifiable risk factor for AMD. For resources on quitting smoking, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Quit Smoking webpage or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).
Often one of the first noticeable signs of AMD is worsening night vision. As AMD advances the rods in a person’s eyes used for night vision are the first to be damaged. If you suddenly notice you are not able to see in the dark as well, or that it is taking much longer than normal for your eyes to adjust to the dark, it could be a symptom of AMD.
As the disease progresses, you may also notice straight lines appearing wavy or distorted. Another common symptom is darkened or blurred central vision.
How do I protect myself against AMD?
The best way to protect yourself against AMD is to continue scheduling and attending your regular eye exams. Diagnosing AMD early is key to preserving as much of your sight as possible for as long as possible.
Diagnostic tests for AMD include a visual acuity test, a comprehensive dilated eye exam and the Amsler grid. A visual acuity test uses the Snellen eye chart we are used to seeing at the eye doctor. In a dilated eye exam, drops are used to widen, or dilate, your pupils. This allows more light into the eye, making it easier for your doctor to get a close-up examination of the macula.
Finally, the Amsler grid is so cheap and easy you could use it right now! This test involves staring at a black and white grid and looking for any wavy, blurred or darkened vision. If you are at risk of AMD, performing this test every day can alert you to changes in your vision as they develop.
What happens if I develop AMD?
Vision loss from AMD cannot be repaired or corrected, but it can be slowed once diagnosed and treated. Few treatments currently exist for dry AMD, but vision rehabilitation can help build visual skills and develop new ways to perform everyday activities. The main treatment for wet AMD is routine eye injections. These reduce the buildup of abnormal blood vessels that cause most of the eye damage.
The only way to slow the damage from AMD is to diagnose and treat! Learn more about AMD and your vision on this episode of Healthy Living for Life, and schedule your eye exam today!
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