Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between dry and wet AMD?
A: Dry AMD is the more prevalent type, accounting for about 90 per cent of AMD cases, while the remaining 10 per cent of cases are wet. Wet AMD, however, is the more rapidly progressive type.
Dry AMD occurs when the layer of cells beneath the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium, begins to deteriorate. This, in turn, affects the overlying retina, particularly the light-sensitive cone cells (responsible for central vision and color perception), gradually dulling and blurring central vision in the affected eye. Dry AMD tends to progress through three stages: early, intermediate and advanced, which could take place over a matter of years, whereas wet AMD develops rapidly, leading to vision loss within months to two years. People with early dry AMD have a 1.3 per cent risk of developing wet AMD over any given five-year period. Those with intermediate dry AMD have an 18 per cent chance of progressing to advanced dry AMD or wet AMD.
Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow under the macula. These new blood vessels leak fluid or blood, causing the overlying retina to deteriorate. Wet AMD can be classified into three subtypes: predominantly classic, minimally classic and occult. Approximately 43 per cent of people with wet AMD in one eye progress to wet AMD in both eyes within five years.
Q: How do I know if I'm at risk for developing AMD?
A: Factors that could increase a person's risk for developing AMD can be genetic or environmental/behavioral such as age, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, overexposure to sunlight (especially blue wavelengths), diet and estrogen and early menopause. Researchers are looking at hyperopia (farsightedness), light skin and eye coloring, cataracts, high blood cholesterol levels and race as possible factors that raise the risk of developing AMD.
Q: What are some of the early symptoms of AMD? How would I know if I had it?
A: Symptoms may include: blurred or fuzzy vision; straight lines that appear wavy or crooked; difficulty seeing details in front of you; a small, but growing, blind spot in the center of vision; decreased ability to distinguish colors; and difficulty seeing at a distance.
Symptoms of AMD can vary from person to person and can even be unrecognizable in the disease's early stages. In some cases, only one eye will exhibit signs of vision loss, while the other functions normally, which makes symptoms harder to detect. However when both eyes are affected, symptoms of central vision loss are more obvious.
Learn more about the symptoms of AMD.
Q: Can I prevent AMD?
A: No, but you can take some steps that may minimize your risk of developing it. Studies show that smoking increases your risk, for example, and suggest that people whose diets include green, leafy vegetables lower their risk of developing AMD. To help minimize your risk:
Don't smoke
Wear sunglasses
Eat lots of dark green, leafy vegetables
Decrease your consumption of processed and packaged foods
Eat extra Omega 3 fatty acids, found in fish and flaxseed oil
Keep your blood pressure under control
(Only smoking has proven to be a consistent risk factor. Other steps are not conclusive in reducing the risk of AMD; however they provide a variety of other health benefits as well as potentially minimizing AMD risk.)
Specific, high daily intakes of Vitamins C, E, A, zinc and copper are recommended for those who already have moderately dry AMD, as they can help slow its progression to advanced AMD in some individuals. It is important not to take Vitamin A (beta-carotene) if you smoke or have quit smoking within the last 10 years, as this may increase the risk of certain types of lung cancer.
Additionally, to ensure early detection, people over the age of 50 are encouraged to see an ophthalmologist for comprehensive eye exams every two to four years.
Q: If I develop AMD, will I go totally blind?
A: Although AMD can lead to legal blindness, you can never go totally blind from AMD alone. Most AMD patients, even those with severe disease, can still learn to perform many of the activities of daily living with adaptations or accommodations.
Q: If I develop AMD in one eye, will I develop it in the other eye?
A: Approximately 43 per cent of people with wet AMD in one eye progress to wet AMD in both eyes within five years.
Q: Is there a cure for AMD?
A: No. Currently, there is no cure for either form of the disease but treatments are available to help control progression of the disease and preserve vision. Three treatments proven to be effective in large clinical trials for wet AMD are currently available: laser surgery, photodynamic therapy and anti-VEGF therapy. However, in dry AMD cases, researchers have found that high daily doses of certain vitamin supplements can help slow the progression of intermediate AMD to advanced AMD, which is the stage when significant vision loss occurs. Learn more about treatments for
dry AMD and
wet AMD.
Q: What should I do if I think I might be at risk of developing AMD?
A: First, see your eye care professional. He/she can perform a number of specific tests that can help diagnose AMD, including a check of your visual acuity, an examination of the interior of the eye, a fluorescein angiogram test and an Amsler grid test. Second, take measures that could help minimize your risk, as described above. You can also do Amsler tests at home on a regular basis.
Q: What should I do if I start having symptoms of AMD?
A: People who experience symptoms of wet or dry AMD are encouraged to see an
eye care professional immediately. People over the age of 50 or otherwise at risk for AMD are encouraged to see their eye care professional for a regular checkup at least every year.