Age Related Macular Degeneration Month

As the leading cause of blindness and vision loss among those over 65, it’s important to be aware of and understand what Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is. There’s no better time to focus on the topic than February, which also happens to be Age Related Macular Degeneration month. If you’re not familiar with the disease, AMD, simply put, is a breakdown of the eye’s macula (a small part of the retina) which is the part that allows you to do very detailed tasks like read small print. There are two forms of AMD that impact over 1.6 million people:

Dry AMD

• Most common form categorized by retina deterioration
• Symptoms include central vision blurriness and blind spots
• Can turn into Wet AMD at anytime

Wet AMD

• Categorized by abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage of fluid/blood into macula
• Can cause objects to appear wavy or lopsided
• Rapid progression of symptoms

While there are differences in both types, the risk factors are very similar which include age, family history, history of smoking, high blood pressure and more. If you suspect that you may be suffering from either form of AMD, or simply want to talk with your doctor about preventative measures, contact us today to schedule an appointment.