Even though Marlene Klein was having trouble recognizing familiar faces and began to mistake her fingers for carrots as she chopped vegetables, she had no idea she was slowly losing her vision to a leading cause of blindness, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). That’s because her brain was compensating for the developing blind spots in her vision. Marlene is not alone. According to a recent Harris Poll survey, most Americans are unaware that people do not always experience symptoms before losing vision to eye disease. In February, Houston Eye Associates and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are urging people to protect themselves from vision loss from AMD by getting a baseline eye exam by age 40.
More than two million Americans are living with the most advanced forms of AMD, a number that is expected to reach 4.4 million by 2050. It is the leading cause of blindness among white Americans over 40, and it’s a leading cause of irreversible vision loss throughout the world.
What is AMD?
With AMD you lose your central vision. You won’t be able to see fine details neither from up close nor far away, but your peripheral (side) vision will still be normal. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people 50 years or older.
AMD happens when part of the retina called the macula is damaged. It’s the part of the eye that delivers sharp, central vision needed to see objects straight ahead. Over time, the loss of central vision can interfere with everyday activities, such as the ability to drive, read, and see faces.
Types of AMD
Dry AMD
Dry AMD is the more common type. Nearly 80% of people with AMD have the dry form. Dry AMD is the collection of waste products on the surface of the retina—this can affect a person’s vision.
Wet AMD
Wet AMD is less common. but much more serious because it causes more damage than dry AMD. With wet AMD, bleeding, abnormal blood vessels grow into the retina leading to scarring of the macula. These bleeding cause you to lose vision faster with wet AMD than you would with the dry form.
Who is at Risk for AMD?
Those who are most at risk for developing AMD:
- eat a diet high in saturated fat,
- are overweight,
- smoke cigarettes,
- have hypertension,
- are over 50 years old, and/or
- have a family history of AMD.
Why Eye Exams are Important
Because AMD often has no early warning signs, getting regular comprehensive eye exams from an ophthalmologist is critical. Academy guidelines state that adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease get a baseline eye disease screening at age 40 — the time when early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to occur. From age 40 to 54, get your eyes examined every two to four years; from 55 to 64, every one to three years. By age 65, get an exam every one to two years, even in the absence of symptoms or eye problems. If you have risk factors for eye disease, you will need to be examined more frequently.
Optometrists – eye doctors who can examine, diagnose, and treat your eyes– have more tools than ever before to diagnose AMD earlier, and to treat it better. But these advances cannot help patients whose disease is undiagnosed or patients who are unaware of the seriousness of their disease.
“People’s lack of understanding about AMD is a real danger to public health,” said Rahul N. Khurana, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “As the number of people with AMD is expected to explode in the coming years, it’s more important than ever that we prioritize eye health and have our eyes examined regularly.”
“The best way to protect and prevent eye-related issues is follow-ups,” answered Houston Eye Associates Optometrist Matthew Lahmeyer, OD when asked about the importance of regular eye exams. “A patient needs an annual eye exam. A lot of the time we can prevent future problems by having an annual eye check-up. If we can catch things earlier, a lot of the times treatment is much easier, less dramatic, and less expensive.”
More needs to be done to elevate eye health as a priority. According to that same Harris Poll, while 81% of respondents say they do everything they can to protect the health of their eyes, only 11% say eye appointments top their list of the most important doctor appointments to keep.
But Marlene is not one of them. She is vigilant about keeping appointments with her ophthalmologist.
“I keep going back to see my ophthalmologist every month because I want to be able to see my husband’s face and to see my three, beautiful daughters,” said Marlene.
Her commitment has paid off. Even though her initial diagnosis was dire, today she can recognize the faces of her family and friends and cook without nicking her fingers. Learn more about Marlene’s story here.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment
Unfortunately, many people do not realize they have AMD they’ve been told by their eye doctor, or their vision is severely affected. Dry and wet AMD differ in the way they cause damage, but no matter which type of AMD you have, any damage caused cannot be reversed. However, you can slow the progression of the disease.
Dry AMD
Treatment for dry AMD usually consist of vitamin supplements, changes to your diet, and reducing bright light exposure with hats and sunglasses.
Your optometrist will be vital in identifying and managing the dry form of AMD; there is a lot of preventative care that can slow down or eliminate the progression of the disease.
Wet AMD
If you have wet AMD, you should be treated by a retinal specialist as soon as possible. A common treatment for wet AMD is the use of medications called anti-VEGF drugs. An anti-VEGF treatment helps reduce the number of abnormal blood vessels in the retina and slows any leaking from blood vessels. This medicine is delivered to your eye through a very slender needle.
Laser surgery may also be a treatment option for some types of wet AMD. Your ophthalmologist (a medical doctor specializing in eye and vision care) shines a laser light beam on the abnormal blood vessels in your eye, reducing the number of abnormal vessels and slowing any leaks.
Eye-Healthy Foods
Eating a well-balanced, nutritional diet has also shown benefits for those with AMD. Dark leafy greens, yellow fruits and vegetables, and fish are a few examples of nutritional foods that may help.
Overall, it is vital for your optometrist and ophthalmologist to work together to diagnose and treat your type of AMD. Ask your eye doctor about the treatment options that are best for you. If you are experiencing symptoms of AMD, or have been diagnosed with AMD and need further treatment, schedule an appointment with Houston Eye Associates today.
Sources:
https://www.houstoneye.com/services/retinal-disorders/macular-degeneration/
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/resources/articles
https://www.aao.org/editors-choice/researchers-identify-high-rate-of-undiagnosed-macu
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amd-macular-degeneration
**The content in this blog is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions or your health.
