Did you know that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the top causes of vision loss worldwide? In the United States alone, around 11 million individuals are affected by this condition and this number is expected to double by 2050.
Read on as your eye doctor from Alderwood Optical and Canyon Park Vision Clinic sheds light on this condition.
Risk Factors and Possible Causes
AMD occurs when your retina’s focal point, the macula, deteriorates as a result of the aging process. Individuals over the age of 50 are most frequently affected. Those with a family history of this disease and those who smoke are at a higher risk of developing AMD.
Major Classifications and Symptoms
Your eye doctor explains that AMD is generally classified either as dry or wet. Approximately 90% of all reported AMD cases are considered dry. This happens when your retinal pigment epithelium, photoreceptors and other macular layers become thinner. This may eventually lead to their loss of function. As they continue to degenerate, lipid waste fragments may start to accumulate under your retina. Also known as drusen, they look like yellow freckles on your eyes.
While less common, wet AMD is considered a more advanced form of AMD. This occurs when the choroid membrane, which supplies your retina with blood, becomes damaged as you age, restricting blood and nutrient delivery to your eyes. To compensate, fragile new blood vessels form that are prone to premature rupture, causing blood to leak into your macula. As a result, you may have macular swelling. Without prompt treatment, this condition can cause sudden central blindness.
AMD is dangerous because it is asymptomatic in the early stages, but can cause irreversible vision loss without prompt treatment. This is why it’s best to detect and manage it as early as possible. Visiting your eye doctor regularly can help in the early detection of AMD.
Call us today at (425) 771-8472 for Alderwood Optical or (425) 485-0430 for Canyon Park Vision Clinic to schedule an appointment. You may also complete our form to do so. We serve Redmond, Kirkland and nearby areas. Be sure to check out the last installment of this two-part series to learn how we can manage AMD.