What is AMD?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. This area is essential for daily activities such as reading, recognizing faces, driving, or distinguishing colors clearly. AMD is one of the leading causes of vision loss in people over 55 worldwide.

What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms include:

• Blurry or distorted central vision (e.g., straight lines appearing wavy).
• A dark spot or blind area in the center of your vision.
• Difficulty reading, recognizing faces, or performing tasks requiring precise vision.
• Needing more light to read or perform activities.
• Colors appearing faded or muted.
• In advanced cases, AMD can cause significant central vision loss, severely impacting quality of life and making activities like reading or driving impossible.

What causes AMD?

AMD is primarily linked to the aging of the macula and genetic factors. However, certain risk factors can accelerate its onset or progression:

Non-modifiable risk factors:

• Age: Risk increases significantly after age 55–60.
• Family history: Having relatives with AMD increases your likelihood.
• Ethnicity: People of Caucasian descent and those with light-colored eyes have a slightly higher risk.
• Previous AMD: If one eye is affected, the risk is higher for the other eye.

Modifiable risk factors (ones you can control):

• Smoking: The most significant preventable risk factor, doubling or tripling the risk of AMD.
• High blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle: These conditions can worsen eye health.
• Poor diet: A lack of green leafy vegetables, oily fish, or nuts can increase the risk.
• Intense sun exposure: Unprotected UV exposure can damage the retina.

How is AMD diagnosed, and why is early diagnosis important?

Early diagnosis is critical to slowing the progression of AMD and preserving vision. Regular eye check-ups are recommended starting at age 40–45, or earlier if there’s a family history.

Diagnostic procedures

• OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography): Provides detailed images of the retina to detect macular changes.
• OCT-A (Angiography OCT): Assesses blood flow in the retina without injections.
• Dilated fundus exam: Allows the ophthalmologist to examine the retina in detail.

These procedures are quick, non-invasive, and essential for accurate diagnosis.

How to reduce the risk: Healthy lifestyle tips

Adopting healthy habits can help prevent or delay the progression of AMD:

• Quit smoking: Avoid tobacco, including secondhand smoke, as it’s the most significant risk factor.
• Follow a Mediterranean diet: Prioritize green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale), fruits, oily fish (sardines, salmon), legumes, and nuts. Limit ultra-processed foods and sugars.
• Exercise regularly: Maintain a healthy weight and good circulation.
• Protect your eyes from the sun: Wear sunglasses with high-quality UV filters.
• Manage other health conditions: Keep blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes under control with your doctor’s guidance.
• Get enough sleep: Adequate rest supports overall health, including eye health.

Treatments for AMD

Early-stage treatment:

• Antioxidant supplements (AREDS2 formula): Combinations of lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, and copper may slow progression in some cases. Take them only under your ophthalmologist’s prescription and guidance.

Advanced-stage treatment (wet AMD):

• Anti-VEGF medications:
  • The primary treatment for wet AMD.
  • Administered via intraocular injections to stabilize or improve vision by reducing fluid buildup in the retina.
  • Injections are typically monthly at first, then spaced out based on response.
  • Regular follow-ups with your ophthalmologist are required.
• Laser therapies:
  • Photodynamic therapy or thermal laser may be used in specific cases when anti-VEGF injections are not effective or suitable.
  • Treatment is individualized and determined by your specialist.

Final message

Early detection and regular follow-ups with your ophthalmologist are the best ways to protect your vision. Combine this with a healthy lifestyle and proper management of other health conditions. If you notice any changes in your vision, such as blurriness, distorted lines, or dark spots, consult your ophthalmologist immediately.

Acting promptly can make all the difference!