Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affects the macula. This is the highly sensitive central area of the retina responsible for fine-detail vision required for reading, driving, and recognising faces.
AMD primarily occurs as two types: Dry AMD(gradual thinning of macular tissue) and Wet AMD (abnormal blood vessels growing and leaking fluid under the retina).
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
An overview of
AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENRATION
SYMPTOMS
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Distorted Central Vision: Straight lines appearing wavy or bent (metamorphopsia).
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Visual Dark Spots: A dark or blank spot in the center of your visual field.
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Reduced Detail: Difficulty reading or recognizing fine details even with corrective lenses.
DIAGNOSIS & SCREENING
Diagnosis involves slit-lamp examination of the retina and Amsler grid assessments. High-definition Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is utilized to monitor subtle microscopic changes in retinal layers and detect fluid leakage early.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
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Dry AMD: Managed via specialised antioxidant nutritional supplementation regimens (AREDS2 formulation) to slow progression, alongside lifestyle modifications like smoking cessation.
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Wet AMD: Treated with targeted intravitreal anti-VEGF injections administered directly into the eye to halt vessel growth and minimise fluid leakage.