
Macular Degeneration: The simplified AMD fact sheet
What is macular degeneration? Leading cause of sight loss in the UK Condition affecting the central part of vision, caused by damage to the macula
Macular degeneration is an age-related eye disorder that affects an estimated 4 million people in the UK.
It is characterised by the partial loss of vision, notably in the centre of the visual field and it has no known cure. The condition does not cause complete sight loss, instead, it causes all but the peripheral vision to be lost.
Patients are more likely to experience macular degeneration over the age of 60, though it can appear rarely in younger patients.
The symptoms of macular degeneration can be extremely worrying for the patient, who may fear they are losing their sight entirely.
However, it is very rare that the condition would cause total sight loss and there are treatment methods which can improve or maintain sight in a sufferer.
The most frequently used diagnostic method for this eye condition is the Amsler grid, designed by an ophthalmologist to detect macular disease in patients.
Where a healthy eye sees the simple grid with straight lines and clear boxes, a patient with a macular condition will experience bending and distortion of the lines. Some parts of the grid may be absent entirely.
As well as determining the presence of a macular condition, the grid helps the eye specialist work out how much of the visual field is affected.
There is no cure for the condition and it does tend to worsen over time. However, special lenses can improve the peripheral vision to compensate for the central sight loss and patients can re-learn how to use their eyes to read, watch TV and recognise faces.
There is a form of macular degeneration known as 'wet AMD', which is less common but can be treated to some extent. Injections into the eye can prevent further sight loss in the short term, preserving what sight remains.
To better understand your own macular condition and to discover if treatment is possible, see an eye specialist as soon as possible.
Macular Degeneration: The simplified AMD fact sheet
What is macular degeneration? Leading cause of sight loss in the UK Condition affecting the central part of vision, caused by damage to the macula
Why can’t my opticians strengthen my lenses?
This is a question that is often asked by people who are suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD affects the part of the eye
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