What Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

AMD is one of the most common causes of vision loss in people above 55 years. People affected by AMD lose their ability to drive, see faces, and read tinier prints. According to medical experts on degenerative eye disease, AMD affects only a patient's central vision and doesn't cause blindness. 

Understanding Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-Related Macular Degeneration, or AMD, is an eye disease that affects your central vision. Macula is a part of the retina (a light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision. As AMD doesn't show any early signs, we recommend you get regular eye examinations for an early diagnosis.


Symptoms of AMD

As AMD doesn't show any visible symptoms in the initial stage, one might observe a vision change as the disease progresses. The Ophthalmology specialists in Ponjesly Hospital recommend the below-mentioned as the symptoms of AMD:


  • Blurry vision makes it difficult to read, write or recognize faces

  • Dark areas in the center of your vision

  • Perceiving straight lines as wavy

  • Different colour perception

Types of AMD

The proficient eye doctors classify AMD into broadly two categories:

Dry Macular Generation

Being the most common form of AMD, it develops when tiny yellow protein deposits called drusen form under the macula. The built-up deposits then dry up and shrink the macula, causing vision distortion. This condition causes gradual vision loss causing blind spots at the center of vision.


Wet Macular Generation

When blood vessels develop under the retina and macula, it causes a bulge in the macula affecting your center of vision. It is a less common type of AMD and can cause leakage of blood and fluid into the retina.


Risk Factor & Prevention

'Am I at risk of AMD?' comes the next question. Your risk of getting affected increases with your age. Apart from age, the risk further increases if you are Caucasian, have a family history of AMD and are a smoker. Having said these, our degenerative eye disease surgeons advise the below-mentioned tips to lower your risk of being affected by AMD:


  • Avoid smoking

  • Include 30 minutes of exercise in your routine

  • Maintain healthy blood pressure 

  • Monitor your cholesterol levels

  • Follow a healthy lifestyle


Diagnosis and Treatment

Apart from carrying out a detailed eye examination, the AMD specialists may recommend one or all of the following tests for diagnosis of AMD:


Visual Acuity Test. 

It is a general eye chart test that measures vision ability at various distances


Pupil Dilation

Your doctor will apply eye drops to carry out a close-up examination of the retina


Fluorescein Angiography

This test is done to detect wet AMD. A medicated dye is injected into a vein in the arm. After that, pictures are taken as the dye traverses through the retina's blood vessels. This test evaluates whether the blood vessels are leaking and how they can be treated.  


Amsler Grid 

This is another test to diagnose wet AMD that uses a grid to determine if the straight lines in the mesh appear wavy or missing. 


The AMD treatment depends upon its stage and type. Often ophthalmology experts recommend certain lifestyle changes to arrest the progression of the disease. Your doctor may also prescribe the following drug and therapy to prevent further vision loss:


  • Anti-VEGF drugs 

  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT) 


Ponjesly Hospital: Your Partner in AMD Care


Our eye professionals at Ponjesly Hospital, the best eye hospital in Nagercoil, recommend regular eye checkups for persons above 50. Equipped with the latest technology and the best eye experts, we offer you a comprehensive evaluation and treatment of AMD. Book an appointment today if you experience painful eye inflammation or feel pressure behind your eyes.

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