Around 10% of Americans aged 50 or older have the early form of macular degeneration, a progressive eye disease that affects our central vision. As the population gets older, that number is expected to grow.
Macular degeneration, also called age-related macular degeneration or AMD, affects central vision, so AMD’s most common symptom is central vision loss. However, no two people diagnosed with macular degeneration will experience the disease in the same way.
In this article, Ability Central shares the most common symptoms of macular degeneration at every stage, as well as the diagnosis and treatment processes for both types of AMD.
We answer your most pressing questions about AMD symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, including:
What are the symptoms of macular degeneration?
How is macular degeneration diagnosed?
How is macular degeneration treated?
What conditions and diseases often co-exist with macular degeneration?
Can macular degeneration be prevented?
Where can I get more information about macular degeneration?
What are the symptoms of macular degeneration?
The first symptoms of macular degeneration are not typically noticeable outside of an eye exam.
Macular degeneration symptoms depend on the type of macular degeneration as well as how far the disease has progressed. There are two types of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Both types have three stages—early, intermediate, and late—but wet AMD is typically an advanced form that develops from dry AMD.
Most people start with dry macular degeneration, when yellow protein deposits called drusen build up behind the retina. These deposits are not typically visible to the naked eye, but they do appear during testing in a regular eye exam. Problems with central vision crop up as dry AMD progresses. They can affect one or both eyes.
Intermediate-stage macular degeneration symptoms include:
Blurry or wavy vision
Dark spots or blind spots that shift or come and go
Changes to your color vision, like colors appearing washed out or being harder to tell apart
Difficulties seeing at night or in low light
Difficulties reading or watching television
Bumping into things
Visual distortions, like seeing straight lines as wavy or warped
As macular degeneration progresses, it may turn into wet AMD, when abnormal blood vessels leak fluid into the retina. Vision problems in wet AMD are typically more severe and happen much more quickly.
Late-stage macular degeneration symptoms include:
Permanent dark spots or blind spots in your central vision
Difficulties recognizing faces
Trouble understanding nonverbal social cues like facial expressions
Inability to drive
Total loss of central vision
How is macular degeneration diagnosed?
Macular degeneration can be diagnosed during a regular eye exam, which is why it’s so important to keep up with eye doctor appointments, especially as you get older. If you notice any changes to your central vision or color vision, however, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Both types of macular degeneration are diagnosed through a series of eye tests. These include:
Dilated eye exams. Usually part of a regular eye exam, a dilated eye exam allows more light into your eye so that the doctor can examine the back of your eye (where the retina is).
Amsler grid tests, which look for changes in your central vision. This test presents a series of straight lines that may appear broken, faded, or warped to someone who has AMD.
Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) tests, noninvasive tests that take digital pictures of the back of the eye. Our eyes have natural fluorescence, which means that parts of the eye will light up when exposed to light. Parts of the eye affected by AMD will not light up, making them easier to identify.
Angiography, which uses a special contrast dye to examine the eye’s blood vessels.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT), used to examine changes in the fibers of the optic nerve.
Tonometry, which measures the pressure inside your eyes. High pressure can be a sign of wet AMD.
How is macular degeneration treated?
Macular degeneration treatment depends on the type of AMD you have, how much the disease has progressed, and when you were diagnosed. While there is no cure for macular degeneration, people who get early diagnosis and treatment are more likely to keep their central vision for as long as possible.
The goals of macular degeneration treatment are to preserve your central vision, reduce any fluid buildup or pressure, and slow the progression of the disease.
There are three main treatments for macular degeneration:
Nutritional supplements, like vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, copper, lutein, and zeaxanthin
Medications, like anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections
Laser therapy, like photodynamic therapy (PDT) or laser photocoagulation
To learn more about each of these treatment options in depth, see First Steps After a Macular Degeneration Diagnosis.
What conditions and diseases often co-exist with macular degeneration?
Although macular degeneration likely does not cause other conditions besides vision loss, it is often seen alongside conditions like:
Heart disease, coronary artery disease, and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia)
Osteoporosis
Respiratory diseases
Kidney disease
Charles Bonnet syndrome, which causes visual hallucinations due to severe vision loss.
Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia. People with AMD are 1.23 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than people without AMD.
Macular degeneration and vision loss are also linked to problems with mental health, like depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem. To learn more about mental health and macular degeneration, see Long-term Care for Macular Degeneration: Funding, Support, and More.
Can macular degeneration be prevented?
Sometimes. Age-related vision loss is a natural part of getting older, but the worsening impacts of macular degeneration can be reduced if you avoid common risk factors like smoking or eating a diet high in saturated fats.
Ways to prevent macular degeneration include:
Quitting smoking. People who smoke are twice as likely to develop macular degeneration.
Maintaining a healthy weight, whether that means losing or gaining weight.
Maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Improving your diet. Many doctors recommend the Mediterranean diet* for people interested in improving their eye health, which prioritizes fish, seafood, leafy greens, and whole grains, while minimizing red meat, dairy, sweets, and alcohol.
Getting plenty of exercise, especially low-impact sports that don’t add pressure to the head or eyes, like yoga, walking, or swimming.
*Always speak with your doctor before starting or stopping a new diet, as exclusion diets are not always a great fit for everyone.
To learn more about macular degeneration risk factors, see What is Macular Degeneration? 8 Quick Facts You Should Know.
Where can I get more information about macular degeneration?
To learn more about macular degeneration, check out the rest of our series about the disease:
For more information about eye diseases, vision loss, and other vision-related conditions, check out:
Do I Have Cataracts? Cloudy Vision, Faded Colors, and Other Symptoms of Cataracts
What is Usher Syndrome? Facts About Genetic Vision and Hearing Loss
Additional Information
The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for legal, medical, or other professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date resources, some information may become outdated or incomplete. Always consult with your provider about personal medical concerns.
