Macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic (long-lasting) eye disease that is more common with ageing. It makes your vision blurry and can cause loss of vision in the middle of what you see (known as central vision loss). This can make it hard to drive, read or see people's faces. It can also lead to severe vision loss or blindness.

At first you may not notice any symptoms of AMD. That's why regular eye tests are essential. Even if you don't notice any change in your vision.

Common symptoms include:

• gradual or sudden worsening in your vision
• difficulty reading even with glasses
• distortion, seeing wavy lines that appear bent
• dark patches in the centre of your vision
• difficulty seeing faces clearly
• needing brighter light to read
• decreased night vision and colour vision

AMD is usually painless, so you might not feel any discomfort even as your vision changes.

AMD occurs when cells in the central part of the retina, known as the macula, become damaged.

Types of AMD

There are two main types of AMD:

• Dry— develops slowly and causes gradual vision loss. It happens due to gradual loss of cells in your retina. It is the most common type.
• Wet— leads to rapid loss of central vision. It happens when abnormal blood vessels grow into your macula and leak blood and fluid. This is the most serious type.

Factors that increase your risk of AMD include:

• older age — about 1 in 7 people over the age of 50 years show signs of AMD
• smoking — you are 3 to 4 times more likely to develop AMD if you smoke
• family history — if your parent or sibling has AMD, you have a 1 in 2 risk of getting it too

It's important to see your doctor or optometrist if you experience any changes in your vision, such as:

• blurry vision
• straight lines starting to look wavy or bent
• difficulty recognising faces
• needing more light to read or see things clearly
• reduced night vision

If you notice any of these symptoms, make an appointment with an eye doctor right away.

An optometrist or ophthalmologist will check your vision. They will look at the back of your eyes using a special tool. You may need special tests including:

• retinal photography — your health provider can take a detailed photo of the retina (back of your eye) using a special camera. This can help give an image to compare, so they can see any future changes in your retina.
• an angiogram of your eyes — a dye is injected into a vein in your arm. This dye will highlight blood vessels in your eyes and help your doctor identify any leaks or abnormal growths.
• an OCT scan (also called optical coherence tomography) — this scan takes detailed pictures of your retina. It helps your doctor see any damage or changes.

These tests help doctors diagnose AMD and understand how severe it is.

There is no cure for AMD, but there are treatments available for some types.

For wet AMD, there are treatments that work well. Regular injections of a medicine called anti-VEGF into your eye can prevent further vision loss. At first, you may need these injections monthly. Later, you may need them less frequently. These medicines can help you keep your vision for a longer time.

For dry AMD, there are no treatments available, but a healthy diet and regular exercise can slow the disease's worsening. Some eye specialists also recommend certain vitamin supplements.

AMD can lead to serious complications, including:

• severe vision loss
• blindness
• having trouble doing daily activities

AMD can't be prevented, but regular eye tests can help find early signs of the condition and allow for early treatment. This is especially important if you have a family history of AMD.

Medicare covers eye tests done by optometrists for all Australian permanent residents. You don't need a doctor's referral to see an optometrist for an eye test.

Your doctor can also show you how to monitor your vision at home using an Amsler grid (Opens in new tab). This grid helps you notice early changes in your vision.

You may be able to lower your risk or slow down vision loss with healthy lifestyle choices such as:

• not smoking
• eating a healthy diet rich in the antioxidants found in dark green leafy vegetables
• eating omega-3 fats found in seafood — especially oily fish
• maintaining a healthy weight
• exercising regularly

Visit Vision Australia (Opens in new tab) to learn more about AMD (Opens in new tab) and how to take care of your eyes (Opens in new tab).

The Macular Disease Foundation (Opens in new tab) website has useful information on nutrition for eye health (Opens in new tab).

Languages other than English

Macular Disease Foundation Australia offers translated information on AMD in several languages (Opens in new tab).