Central vision becomes patchy - can be dry or wet.
Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision. It usually first affects people in their 50s and 60s. It doesn’t cause total blindness. But it can make everyday activities like reading and recognising faces difficult. Other symptoms include seeing straight lines as wavy or crooked. Without treatment, your vision may get worse. This can happen gradually over several years (“dry AMD”), or quickly over a few weeks or months (“wet AMD”). The exact cause is unknown. It’s been linked to smoking, high blood pressure, being overweight and having a family history of AMD. AMD affects the middle part of your vision, not the edges (peripheral vision).
You can get it in one eye or both. The first symptom is often a blurred or distorted area in your vision.
Treatment depends on the type of AMD you have.
- Dry AMD – there’s no treatment to cure it, but vision aids can help reduce the effect on your life. Also taking vitamin supplements help to halt the progression of this condition.
- Wet AMD – you may need regular eye injections.
