Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Patient Counselling Guide)

Macula is the yellow oval spot at the center of the back of the eye or retina, which is responsible for sharpness of vision. Degeneration of, or damage to, the macula may result in blurring of central vision or the appearance of a  central blind spot (ie, scotoma). Macular degeneration affects only the central vision and not the peripheral vision; hence, it does not cause total blindness. Despite the irreversible damage of AMD, early detection and treatment can help lessen the extent of vision loss. 4 Furthermore, study findings suggest that genetics could be involved in the onset of AMD. There are  2 types of AMD: dry and wet. Dry (nonexudative) AMD is more common (80%) and the loss of vision is not as severe as that of the wet type. In dry AMD, parts of the macula get thinner with age and small yellowish waste deposits called "drusen" build up. These deposits are associated with the deterioration of the cells (ie, cone photoreceptors) in the retina, resulting in a loss of vision, sharpness and color. Dry AMD usually starts in one eye, which may slowly progress to involve the other eye.8 Wet (exudative) AMD results from the development of new blood vessels behind the retina. Since new blood vessels are very fragile, blood and fluid may often seep out (hence the term “wet”) toward the macula.10,18,19 These leaks can damage the macula, causing rapid loss of central vision. Although it is less common than the dry type, it is responsible for 90% of all severe vision loss caused by AMD.

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