Although it can progress rapidly, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is typically a gradual condition where vision becomes increasingly blurred, making activities such as reading more difficult. People’s faces also become harder to recognise and colours appear less vivid.
AMD occurs when the macula—the part of the eye responsible for central vision—stops working properly. There are two types of AMD: ‘wet’ and ‘dry’. The former occurs when abnormal blood vessels emerge underneath the macula and damage cells. This variant is more serious than dry AMD, which develops when macular cells are damaged by a build-up of deposits called drusen. This is by far the most common type of age-related macular degeneration, occurring in nine out of 10 cases.
If you notice that your eyesight is gradually worsening, visit your GP or optometrist. Make an emergency appointment if your vision deteriorates suddenly or you notice blind spots in your field of vision.
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Treatment and management of AMD
There’s no cure for AMD—wet or dry—and treatments mostly focus on helping sufferers make the most of their remaining vision, such as using magnifying glasses to make reading easier. For dry AMD, NHS Choices states that a diet rich in leafy green vegetables may slow the condition while anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medication can be used to treat wet AMD. Laser surgery has even been suggested as a possible means of destroying the blood vessels that damage the macula.
Age-related macular degeneration is a long-term condition and sufferers will need to learn how to manage it and make the most of what sight they have left. Start off by making things easier to see around your house, such as using clocks and watches with large numbers, large print books and telephones with big buttons. Clever lighting will also help enormously—such as using a lamp that can be angled to shine directly on whatever you’re doing. It’s also important to make sure your lighting is controllable, consistent and even across the house. Using different, contrasting colours and tones in your home to make objects stand out is also useful—from using thick black pen on white paper to brightly coloured plates on dark tablecloths.
It’s crucial that you look after your eyes by attending regular eye tests and check-ups, and make sure you always take the medications and treatments you’ve been prescribed—whether AMD-related or not. As well as this, lifestyle changes such as eating more fruits and vegetables, quitting smoking and managing your weight can also help. On sunny days, shield your eyes from the sun with wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses as the harmful UVB and UVA rays in sunlight could further damage your vision.
See also: 10 Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy
You may also be referred to a low vision clinic, where a trained professional will give you an assessment that will help you get the most out of your sight. Depending on what challenges you are having with your age-related macular degeneration and what activities you would like help with, the clinic will prescribe you a varied array of low vision equipment and aids to help with maintaining your independence. The Royal National Institute of the Blind also sells a range of products to help with low vision, from speaking weighing scales to talking televisions.
If you enjoyed reading this article on age-related macular degeneration click here to read more on Celebrity Angels about common eye health issues.
