Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that can come on slowly with few symptoms. If not identified early, it can cause permanent vision problems, even partial blindness. The best defense against this eye disease is regular examinations by your ophthalmologist and early treatment. Here is why this is such a dangerous condition and how your eye doctor can help to prevent a loss of vision.

A Disease That Affects the Retina

There are two forms of this disease, and both impact your retina. When initial symptoms do occur, you may need more light or reading glasses to see clearly. When the disease is advanced, partial blindness can happen. Your eye doctor will diagnose which form of AMD you have and recommend treatment to prevent any further loss of vision.

Wet AMD

With this type of AMD, new blood vessels form on the surface at the back of your eye over the retina. These vessels have weak walls which allow fluid to leak out of them. The fluid builds up on the retina, blocking light from reaching it. Your vision begins to get blurry, you'll need more light to read, and it will be harder to focus on objects clearly.

Dry AMD

A dry, yellow deposit forms on the surface of the eye over the retina. This often starts at an area called the macula, which is responsible for your central vision. As this material accumulates, you'll start to see shadows across your central vision, then dark patches. When this form advances, you'll lose all of your central vision.

Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Most of the vision loss you have due to AMD cannot be reversed, but your eye doctor can slow down any further loss. This is why frequent eye exams to detect signs of AMD are important. Each type of AMD is treated differently to keep it from affecting your vision further.

Wet AMD Treatment

Preventing the growth of new blood vessels - A medication injected into your eye prevents the growth of these new, weak blood vessels. Some of the existing blood vessels will also collapse and eventually be absorbed by your eye. This treatment will often need to be repeated regularly to prevent future growth of these damaging blood vessels.

Removing existing weak blood vessels - A medication is injected into your bloodstream. It circulates through your body and into the eye. Your doctor then shines a special light into your eye which activates the medication. The tiny, weak blood vessels shrink and are absorbed by the eye. This treatment must also be done periodically once the development of these blood vessels is detected.

Laser surgery - An eye surgeon can use a laser focused on the weak blood vessels. The vessels collapse and are again absorbed by your eye.

Dry AMD Treatment

This condition is more challenging to treat. Some treatments increase your risk of developing wet AMD.

Slowing down the formation of the dry deposits - Changes in your diet can help prevent the accumulation of the dry deposits over the retina. Foods rich in the vitamins A, C and E and the minerals copper and zinc can slow down or stop these deposits.

Improving your central vision - An artificial lens can be surgically implanted into your eye to improve your central vision. While this doesn't reduce the dry deposits, it prevents loss of vision from the accumulation of the deposits.

Laser surgery - Some of the dry deposits can be removed with a laser, slowing down the loss of central vision. This treatment does increase your risk of developing wet AMD, so it is done sparingly to reduce the risk.