The most important things are often the most fragile. Our eyes are among the most sensitive organs in the body and the most useful. Unfortunately, many take their eyes for granted. It is until they develop an eye issue that they realize how much they rely on them. Sadly, most of these issues develop in old age, making coping even harder. One such issue is AMD.

AMD is an eye condition that affects your ability to do detailed tasks like reading, recognizing faces, and driving. The part of the eye responsible for these tasks is a small part of the retina called the macula. When this part is affected and deteriorates, it loses its ability to send visual signals to the brain. 

What Is AMD?

It is the most prevalent cause of loss of eyesight for people over 60 years. Currently, it affects about 10 million citizens in the U.S. and causes more vision loss than glaucoma and cataracts combined. The condition usually affects only central vision, meaning that your peripheral works as usual. 

The condition comes in two main forms, wet and dry macular degeneration. Both occur due to abnormal activity under the macula. But the causes of the abnormal activity differ and develop at different speeds.

• Wet AMD

This condition is the least prevalent, affecting only 10 to 15 percent of all people with AMD. It is also more fatal because you can lose your vision very quickly once the symptoms manifest. The name comes from the primary cause of this form.

Wet or exudative AMD develops when the body forms abnormal blood vessels in the eye. These abnormal blood vessels form under the macula and build up over time. Once they reach a certain amount, they leak fluids and blood into the macula. These fluids cause the macula to deteriorate and fail to function.

• Dry AMD

Dry or atrophic AMD is the most common of the two forms, affecting around 85 to 90 percent of all the patients with the condition. It develops gradually and in different stages, each with different symptoms. The name is descriptive of the cause of this condition. 

The eye sometimes produces waste that collects as yellow lipid clumps called drusen. Usually, these are common and scattered. However, their presence puts you at high risk of developing AMD. Atrophic AMD develops when these drusen collect and build up under the macula. Over time, they cause the membrane to thin out until it does not work normally.

Symptoms of AMD

• Blank spots in your vision
   

• Straight lines appear curvy
   

• Difficulty seeing in low light
   

• Blurry central vision

Who Can Get It?

The condition's cause is unknown, but scientists have found some risk factors for developing it. If someone in your family has the condition, you are likely to develop it too. If you are obese or have a poor diet, you may develop the disease. They have also linked the condition to hypertension. 

For more on age-related macular degeneration, visit EyeVenue in Strasburg or Westminster, Colorado. Call (720) 740-0400 to book an appointment today.