If you've been diagnosed with macular degeneration, it's essential to know how this sight-threatening eye disease progresses and what you can do to slow it down. Although there isn't yet a cure, we at Forney Eye Associates can prescribe specific formulations and treatments that could help you preserve your vision for years.
What Is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over 55. The disease involves a deterioration of the macula, the central part of the retina. The macula is responsible for sharp central vision, so damage to the macula can lead to vision loss.
There are two main types of macular degeneration: dry and wet.
Dry AMD is the more common form of macular degeneration caused by the gradual breakdown of the macula over time. Dry AMD can progress to wet AMD, but this does not always happen.
Wet AMD is the less common but more severe form of macular degeneration, and abnormal blood vessels growing under the macula cause it. Wet AMD can cause rapid vision loss.
An eye doctor can diagnose macular degeneration with a comprehensive eye exam. This exam includes a pupil dilation exam, a digital retinal image, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan, and an Amsler grid test.
- Pupil dilation exam: An eye doctor dilates your pupils with eye drops to see the inside of your eye better.
- Digital retinal image: A digital retinal image is a retina photograph.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan: An OCT scan is a non-invasive imaging test that creates cross-sectional retina images.
- Amsler grid test: The Amsler grid test is a simple test to detect changes in central vision.
What Are the Phases of AMD Progression?
How fast your AMD will progress will depend on the type of macular degeneration you have and how early it’s diagnosed and treated. The following are phases of AMD.
First Phase of Dry AMD
An eye doctor diagnoses dry AMD (the more common and less serious form of the disease) when they notice small deposits, called drusen, on the retina during a comprehensive eye exam. This is usually the only indication of AMD since the patient has no symptoms or vision loss at this stage.
Second Phase of Dry AMD
In the second phase of dry AMD, the drusen are larger, and the eye doctor can see that the retina is starting to thin out and lose neural tissue. Damage to the retinal pigment epithelium layer (RPE) of the retina may occur. Since the RPE is responsible for transporting nutrients to the retina and absorbing light, damage to the RPE layer can significantly impact vision.
Third Phase of Dry AMD
Growth of drusen in dry AMD becomes more severe, and the RPE layer is extensively damaged. Vision declines, hindering the ability to perform your daily activities. AMD can even result in functional blindness. Due to vision loss, you may need to use low-vision devices to help you see better throughout the day.
Wet AMD
Because the arrival of new and fragile blood vessels causes wet AMD, phases of wet AMD progress more quickly and are more likely to cause blindness than dry AMD. The abnormal and thin blood vessels grow in the retina and can easily leak fluid or blood so that vision can decline suddenly or within days.
How Fast Does Macular Degeneration Progress?
The general timeline for the progression of dry AMD from the initial diagnosis to significant vision loss is usually over several years, often within ten years. However, it is essential to note that the progression of dry AMD can vary widely from person to person.
Can Macular Degeneration Be Stopped?
Although no cure can completely stop macular degeneration, early detection, treatment, and lifestyle improvements can significantly increase your chances of preserving your vision for longer. The following can help preserve vision and slow AMD progression.
- Regular comprehensive eye exams
- Quitting smoking
- A diet rich in leafy greens, orange-colored vegetables, and fruits
- Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as oily fish
- AREDS-2 vitamins slow AMD progression
- Sunglasses that screen out 100% of UV rays
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Regular exercise
If you have been diagnosed with AMD, acting fast to preserve your vision is essential. Prompt diagnosis and thorough treatment can help you see better for longer. The eye care staff and eye doctors at Forney Eye Associates Lasik & Cataract Surgery Center provide the right solutions and treatments to help preserve your vision with AMD.
Our practice serves patients from Dallas, Forney, Mesquite, Plano, Texas, and surrounding communities.
Our practice serves patients from Dallas, Forney, Mesquite, and Plano, Texas and surrounding communities.
FAQ
Q: Is macular degeneration hereditary?
Having a parent or sibling with AMD increases the risk that you will develop this eye disease. For this reason, sharing your family's health history with your eye doctor and scheduling regular comprehensive eye exams is essential.
A: Does dry macular degeneration progress to wet AMD?
About 10% of people with dry AMD eventually develop wet AMD, which is yet another reason to have routine eye exams if you have dry AMD.