Human eye cross-sectional view. Courtesy NIH National Eye Institute

Normal vision. Courtesy NIH National Eye Institute

The same view with age-related macular deneneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an disease which blurs the central, sharp vision of the eye by damaging the macula, the part of the eye which allows you to see fine details. It is the main cause of central vision loss in Americans who are 50 or more years old. It can progress so slowly that it isn't noticed or it can progress quickly.

There are two types of age related macular degeneration, wet and dry.

Wet AMD

Wet AMD is caused by abnormal blood vessels behind the retina growing under the macula. The new blood vessels tend to be fragile, break easily and leak blood, which raises the macula from its normal place. This rapidly damages the macula. With wet AMD loss of central (sharp) vision can be rapid and it is always considered to be advanced AMD and more severe than the dry form. An early symptom of wet AMD is straight lines appearing wavy. Anyone who sees this or other changes in vision should contact their eye doctor at once to get a comprehensive dilated eye examination.

Dry AMD

Medical, photodynamic, laser photocoagulation and laser treatment of wet macular degeneration are available. The success of treatment and vision preservation is facilitated by early detection( www.macular-degeneration.cc ). This is contemplated by home monitoring by the patients using a grid pattern called Amsler Grid test ( www.amsler.cc ). The test that is a black and white pattern to be viewed misses majority of defects ( references at www.ixm.us ) caused by the progression and therefore a more sensitive blue on yellow test pattern has recently been introduced.

More information on the subject is available here.

Treatment

Those with AMD can sometimes benefit from the treatment tested in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study.

Research on Prevention of AMD

Recent studies suggest that Statins, a family of drugs used for reducing cholesterol levels, may be effective in prevention of AMD, and in slowing its progression. See http://bjo.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/88/2/161

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macular_degeneration"

External links

• The disease from a European perspective

• Blue Yellow and Blue Red test for early diagnosis