Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration, often referred to as AMD, is a medical condition that usually affects adults 40 and older.

It results in a loss of vision and can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces due to the damage to the seeing part of the retina called the macula. You will hear it described in two different forms, dry and wet AMD.  

Types of Macular Degeneration 

  • Dry AMD: The dry form of advanced AMD results from atrophy (loss of tissue) of the retinal pigment epithelial layer and a buildup of a waste material called drusen. As more waste is deposited the drusen gets larger which degrades vision over time. 

  • Wet AMD: The wet form of advanced AMD causes vision loss due to abnormal blood vessel growth. This ultimately leads to blood and protein leakage below the macula. Bleeding, leaking, and scarring from these blood vessels eventually causes irreversible damage to the photoreceptors and rapid vision loss if left untreated. Fortunately, only about 10 percent of patients suffering from macular degeneration have the “wet” type.

Imagine a concrete floor that has many bumps in it. It is no longer smooth; this is dry AMD. Now imagine, one of those bumps develops a crack in it and water can flow up through that crack, this is wet AMD.  

Symptoms: 

Macular degeneration is not painful, which may allow it to go unnoticed for some time. For this reason, regular eye examinations are important. While approximately 10 percent of patients age 66 to 74 will have findings of macular degeneration, the prevalence increases to 30 percent for patients age 75 to 85 years of age. Family history may also play a factor. The good news is that regular eye exams, early detection, and new treatment options enable doctors to maintain (and in some cases increase) visual acuity in patients. 

Risk Factors 

There are several risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which we categorize into those within our control and those beyond our control. 

Beyond our control: 

  • Family History of AMD (Dry or Wet) 

  • Caucasian 

  • Female 

Within our control: 

  • Diet: Adhere to a mediterranean diet (Dark leafy greens, broccoli, red/orange peppers) 

  • Smoking Cessation: Smokers face 3-4x higher risk of developing AMD 

  • Sun Protection: Sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats are essential to protecting the eyes from UV exposure.  

No matter what brings you to Bogan Eyecare, you can trust that we’re dedicated to providing care that’s comprehensive, personalized, and focused on improving your quality of life. Ready to schedule your appointment?