AMD(Age Related Macular Degeneration)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a deterioration or breakdown of the eye’s macula. The macula is a small area in the retina — the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. The macula is the part of the retina that is responsible for your central vision, allowing you to see fine detail clearly.

Symptoms
Dry macular degeneration symptoms usually develop gradually and without pain. They may include:
• Visual distortions, like straight lines seeming bent
• Reduced central vision in one or both eyes
• The need for brighter light when reading or doing close work
• Increased difficulty adapting to low light levels, such as when entering a dimly lit restaurant
• Increased blurriness of printed words
• Decreased intensity or brightness of colors
• Difficulty recognizing faces
• you lose visual sharpness
• and contrast sensitivity
• images, writing or faces can become distorted in the centre

Dry AMD
You may have dry AMD if:
• you need brighter light than normal when reading
• text appears blurry
• colours appear less vibrant
• you have difficulty recognising people’s faces
• your vision seems hazy or less well defined

Wet AMD
In most cases, wet AMD develops in people who already had dry AMD.If you have wet AMD, any blurring in your central vision will suddenly worsen.
risk factors
Age
Family history
Smoking
Ethnicity
Gender
Alcohol
Sunlight
Obesity
High blood pressure and heart disease

Diagnosis
Fluorescein angiography
Indocyanine green angiography
Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
Fundus photography
Treating macular degeneration

Dry AMD
With dry AMD, the deterioration of vision can be very slow. Staff at the clinic can provide useful advice and practical support to help minimise the effect dry AMD has on your life. For example, you may wish to try:
• magnifying lenses
• large-print books
• very bright reading lights
• screen-reading software on your computer so you can “read” emails and documents, and browse the internet

Diet and nutrition
Talk to an ophthalmologist about whether food help against dry AMD Food rich in vitamins A, C , E and lutein and zeaxanthin are good for eyes they include:
• oranges
• kiwis
• leafy green vegetables
• tomatoes & carrots

Wet AMD
The two main treatment options for wet AMD are:
•anti-VEGF medication – that prevent the growth of new blood vessels in the eye
•laser surgery – to destroy abnormal blood vessels in the eye