AMD, or age-related macular degeneration, is a common eye disease that can cause vision loss as you age. The macula is the part of your retina responsible for sharp, straight-ahead vision, and when it becomes damaged, AMD can cause your central vision to blur. AMD doesn’t lead to complete blindness, but losing your central vision can make it difficult to see faces, read, drive, or do close-up work. While AMD can’t be cured, there are treatments available that can help slow its progression. You can also take steps to reduce your risk of developing AMD in the first place. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss for older adults in the United States
Types of AMD
There are two types of AMD: dry and wet. The vast majority of people with AMD have the dry form, which is characterized by a thinning of the macula as you age. Dry AMD usually progresses slowly over several years. There is no treatment for late-stage dry AMD. You can find ways to make the most of your remaining vision. If you only have AMD in one eye, there are steps you can take to protect your vision in the other eye.
Wet AMD is a more severe form of the disease that can lead to rapid vision loss if left untreated. Wet AMD is caused by abnormal blood vessels growing under the retina and leaking fluid or blood into the surrounding tissue.
Symptoms
According to the National Eye Institute, the symptoms of AMD depend on the stage.
Dry AMD happens in three stages: early, intermediate, and late.
-Early dry AMD doesn’t cause any symptoms.
-In intermediate dry AMD, some people still have no symptoms. Others may notice mild symptoms, like mild blurriness in their central vision or trouble seeing in low lighting.
-In late-stage (wet or dry), many people notice that straight lines start to look wavy or crooked. You may also notice a blurry area near the center of your vision.
Treatments
There is no cure for AMD but there are treatments available that can help slow its progression. Treatment options include prescription medications, vitamins and supplements, and laser surgery. If you’re worried that you may have AMD, it’s important to see an eye doctor for a diagnosis – early detection and treatment is key in preserving your vision.
How can we diagnose AMD?
We invested in Maculogix’ Adapt DX Pro to test patients for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). With 20 years of clinical research behind it, this non-invasive device is one of the most accurate tools to detect early signs of AMD. It automatically aligns with the eye to capture an accurate measurement of dark adaptation speed. Dark adaptation is the automatic adjustment of the eye from bright light to low light, involving reflex dilation of the pupil. Dark adaptation speed is a key metric to diagnose early signs of AMD because the healthy eye adapts relatively quickly from bright light to darkness while the process can be very slow in the eyes with AMD.
Routine tests with Maculogix’ Adapt DX take about 5 min (compared to around an hour or more with other devices).