
Do you know the types of age-related macular degeneration?
05 October 2023
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition that primarily affects people over 50 years of age. This disease can have a significant impact on quality of life, as it can affect central vision, making tasks such as reading, recognizing faces, and carrying out daily activities difficult. AMD comes in two main forms: dry and wet. Below, we will explain in detail each of these forms and their distinctive characteristics.
- dry AMD
Also known as geographic atrophy, it is the most common form of age-related macular degeneration. It is estimated that it represents around 85-90% of AMD cases. In this form, small accumulations of cellular debris, known as drusen, appear under the macula. Over time, these drusen can increase in number and size, gradually damaging the cells of the macula and reducing central vision.
Characteristics of dry AMD:
- Drusen: the presence of drusen, which are deposits of proteins and cellular debris, is a distinctive sign of dry AMD. These drusen can be detected during an eye exam.
- Gradual progression: Dry AMD tends to progress more slowly than its wet counterpart. Central vision loss can occur gradually over years.
- Mild early symptoms: In the initial stages, symptoms may be mild or even imperceptible. As the disease progresses, there may be blurred, distorted vision or dark areas in the central visual field.
- wet AMD
Wet AMD, also called neovascular or exudative, is less common but more aggressive than the dry form. Although it only accounts for about 10-15% of AMD cases, it is responsible for the majority of cases of severe vision loss associated with this disease.
Characteristics of wet AMD:
- Abnormal blood vessel growth: In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula. These vessels can leak blood and fluid, causing damage to retinal cells and aggravating vision loss.
- Distorted vision: One of the hallmark symptoms of wet AMD is distorted vision, where straight lines may appear curved or wavy.
- Rapid vision loss: Unlike the dry form, wet AMD can cause more rapid and dramatic central vision loss.
Diagnosing AMD involves a complete ophthalmologic examination, which may include tests such as fluorescein angiography to evaluate the wet form. While there is no definitive cure for AMD, there are treatment approaches that can help slow the progression and improve patients' quality of life. For dry AMD, treatments may include adopting a healthy lifestyle, vitamin supplements, and vision therapy. For wet AMD, intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) medications can help control abnormal blood vessel growth.