Types of AMD

• Dry AMD:

Dry AMD is happened when the macula gets thinner with age. Dry AMD happens in 3 stages– early, intermediate and late. There’s no treatment for late dry AMD, but there are ways to make the most of the remaining vision. And if one has late dry AMD in only 1 eye, they can take steps to protect their other eye.

• Wet AMD:

Wet AMD happens when abnormal blood vessels grow in the back of the eye and damage the macula. Wet AMD is a less common type of late AMD that usually causes faster vision loss. Any stage of dry AMD can turn into wet AMD, but wet AMD is always late or the last stage. The good news is that treatment options are available for wet AMD.

Cause of AMD

• Age:

About 2% of people in their 50s have AMD, and almost a third of people over 75 do.

• High Blood Pressure:

 High blood pressure restricts the amount of oxygen getting into the eyes, which may raise the risk for AMD.

• Heart Disease:

If a person had a stroke, angina (a type of chest pain), or a heart attack, the risk of AMD may be 1.5 times as high as someone who has not had any of these problems. High cholesterol levels may also raise the risk of getting affected.

• Smoking:

 The risk for AMD could be up to 4 times as much as someone who has never smoked. This is probably because smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that goes to different parts of our body, including our eyes. 

• Obesity:

Some studies suggest that if a person has a body mass index over 30 it can be more than double the chances of getting AMD, although this is not yet proven. 

Symptoms of AMD

• Central vision becomes blurry at first, sometimes progressing to a total loss of central vision.
• Straight lines look wavy.
• Colors (particularly pastels) become harder to distinguish from one another.
• Seeing in dim light becomes more difficult.

Treatment and Cure

Dry AMD:

As of now, there’s no treatment for dry macular degeneration. However, there are many clinical trials in progress. If your condition is diagnosed early, you can take steps to help slow its progression, such as taking vitamin supplements, maintaining healthy diets and quit smoking.

Wet AMD:

• Therapies such as Photodynamic therapy, Photocoagulation and Low Vision Rehabilitation
• Medication may help to stop the growth of new blood vessels by blocking the effects of growth signals the body sends to generate new blood vessels.

Precautions and Preventions

• Maintain a healthy blood pressure and weight.
• Add vegetables to your diet including leafy veggies like Spinach, Kale and Swiss chard.
• Manage your other medical conditions like if you have cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure,take your medication properly and follow your doctor’s instructions for controlling the condition.
• Quit Smoking
• Get routine eye check ups