Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Causing Low Vision and Vision Loss

"Age Related Macular Degeneration Is A Leading Reason Low Vision Reading Aids Needed in baby boomers." – Visual Enhancements Low Vision Aids

AMD affects 25 to 30 million people worldwide. It is the leading cause of low vision in America’s boomer generation.

The macula is located in the centre of the retina, at the back of the eye. It processes the images our brain translates into central vision. The size of a pea, the macula helps to see sharp detail, such as a freckle on a nose.

As our eyes get older, the membrane separating the macula from retinal blood vessels can weaken, depriving the macula of nourishment. When the macula degenerates, so does our central vision.

Macular Degeneration can seriously affect one's central vision in just a few months or over the course of several years. In severe cases, scar tissue from leaky blood vessels can cause irreversible blind spots.

Macular Degeneration will never cause total blindness since peripheral vision remains unaffected. People with AMD may see the color of someone's shirt, but not his face. They might spot a small coin on the floor as they walk through a room but cannot read the clock on the wall.

While no two individuals with Age-Related Macular Degeneration experience exactly the same degree of vision loss, brighter light and sharp contrast in color can make objects more visible to anyone with the condition.

There are two forms of AMD causing vision loss:

The dry form, which is the most common, and the wet form, which is less common but causes more severe and sudden sight loss.

Dry Macular Degeneration AMD: With dry AMD, varying degrees of sight loss are caused by deposits of drusen (age spots) that form in the macula.

Wet Macular Degeneration AMD: Wet AMD results from abnormal blood vessels forming and leaking into the macula.

Macular Degeneration – Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What are the symptoms of Macular Degeneration?

Answer: In the early stages your central vision may be blurred or distorted with things looking an unusual size or shape. This may happen quickly or develop over several months. You may be very sensitive to light or actually see lights that are not there. This may cause some discomfort occasionally but otherwise macular degeneration is not painful.

Question: Which is more common-the dry form or the wet form?

Answer: The dry form is much more common. More than 85 percent of all people with intermediate and advanced AMD combined have the dry form.

Macular Degeneration Causes and Risk Factors

Question: Who is at risk for AMD?

Answer: The greatest risk factor is age. Although AMD may occur during middle age, studies show that people over age 60 are clearly at greater risk than other age groups. For instance, a large study found that people in middle-age have about a 2 percent risk of getting AMD, but this risk increased to nearly 30 percent in those over age 75.

Macular Degeneration Risk Factors include:

• Smoking. Smoking may increase the risk of AMD.
• Obesity. Research studies suggest a link between obesity and the progression of early and intermediate stage AMD to advanced AMD.
• Race. Whites are much more likely to lose vision from AMD than African Americans.
• Family history. Those with immediate family members who have AMD are at a higher risk of developing the disease.
• Gender. Women appear to be at greater risk than men.

About Visual Enhancements, Low Vision Aids

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