Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a permanent and irreversible eye condition. Once contracted, your central vision will become increasingly blurry and distorted. In rare cases, you may even develop permanent blind spots.
AMD is almost certain to pose a challenge to your daily life. However, treatments that can curtail the disease’s progression do exist. This speaks to the importance of understanding its symptoms and detecting it as early as possible.
See what you can do to recognize the early signs of AMD and regulate it before it takes most of your eyesight away.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition in which the macula, the part of the retina responsible for clear central vision, deteriorates. The damaged macula causes central vision loss, making what you see in front of you blurry or distorted.
In 10% of the cases, AMD progresses from dry to wet. Wet AMD is characterized by the formation of new blood vessels (neovascularization) under the retina and the macula. These blood vessels tend to leak, causing permanent blind spots in your central vision.
Given AMD’s potential to irreversibly degenerate into wet AMD, this condition, which affects 2 million Canadians, needs to be detected as early as possible. For that purpose, recognizing the symptoms of AMD and scheduling regular eye exams are crucial.
My Optometrist Calgary has experience detecting AMD and helping senior Calgarians manage this disease.
One thing is clear: the most effective way to diagnose AMD is through routine eye exams. If you are a senior over 60 years of age (and therefore susceptible to AMD), you should ideally have an optometrist thoroughly examine your eyes at least once per year.
However, if you have not visited your eye doctor in a while and are experiencing these 5 symptoms, you may be afflicted with AMD.
The combined symptoms of AMD can make daily life a struggle. You may have difficulties recognizing people, adapting to low light levels, and reading your favourite books.
It is worth repeating that relying on symptoms to diagnose AMD is never as effective as completing an eye exam. AMD can affect one eye only, making the symptoms difficult to detect as your other eye will compensate for the vision loss.
While no miracle cure for AMD exists, certain treatments can be effective at slowing down the progression of the disease.
Finally, certain vitamins can slow down moderate cases of AMD. Research has shown that a daily multivitamin supplement reduced the chance of intermediate AMD progressing to advanced AMD by 25% to 30%.* It also reduced the risk of vision loss by 19%.
This multivitamin formula includes:
Dealing with AMD could be one of your toughest challenges yet. That is why you must take measures to abate its progression before your central vision is completely lost for good.
Visit your optometrist at least once every year so that AMD and other equally damaging eye conditions do not go under the radar. We at Optometrist Calgary may not cure your AMD outright, but we can certainly help you cope with it.
*National Eye Institute Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS/AREDS2): major findings
Q: Does AMD cause total blindness?
A: No. AMD in both its forms only affects your central vision, so you will never be totally blind. However, losing your central vision permanently disqualifies you from participating in routine activities, such as reading and driving.
Q: Is AMD painful?
A: No. AMD does not cause any pain as it progresses.
Q: How can I prevent AMD?
A: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your chances of contracting AMD as you age. This includes:
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