You use your central vision for just about everything you do! Could you imagine if it was gone? Unfortunately, people over the age of 60 have an increased risk of an eye disease that damages your central vision known as macular degeneration (also known as age-related macular degeneration, AMD or ARMD).
In the video below, Dr. Omar Punjabi talks about what you need to know about macular degeneration.
If you don’t like the video or want more information, continue reading.
What is macular degeneration?
Macular degeneration is an eye disease where there is damage to your macula, the area in your eye responsible for capturing your central vision.
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ARMD risk factors
A few of the main risk factors for developing macular degeneration include:
- Advancing age
- Smoking
- Long-term sun exposure
- A diet low in vitamins
- Having a family member with the disease
- Being White
Wet vs Dry AMRD
There are two main forms of this disease, the wet form (exudative) and the dry form (nonexudative).
The dry form is more common, often leads to gradual vision loss and needs to be monitored carefully over time as it can develop into the wet form.
On the other hand, the wet form is associated with bleeding or leakage from abnormal blood vessels inside your eye and can lead to rapidly occurring, severe vision loss. If you have the wet form, you would see a retinal surgeon for proper management.
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If you are at risk of having macular degeneration, make sure to schedule an appointment with your local eye care professional today!
