Family History
Most growth factors or what causes macular degeneration may be linked to family history. Hereditary may put eye health at risk of developing wet forms of the disease.
Choroidal neovascularization is a common cause of wet macular degeneration and will cause vision loss. Signs of macular degeneration may be uncovered by a visual field or amsler grid test when visiting eye doctors for an eye exam.
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of Vision Loss and is a serious eye disease that causes the breakdown of the macula, which is located in the central portion of the retina and destroys the clear, "straight ahead" central vision necessary for reading, driving, identifying faces, watching television, doing fine detailed work, safely navigating stairs and performing other daily tasks we take for granted. Low vision or blurred vision is a constant reminder when learning to rely on peripheral vision to view the world. People with macular degeneration or late amd will experience severe vision loss, making it more difficult to see contrast and can change the way color is seen.
PROGRESSION OF MACULAR DEGENERATION
- Category 1: No wet AMD Few or no drusen, no loss of vision.
- Category 2: Early Stage AMD Several small drusen or a few medium-sized drusen in one or both eyes.
- Category 3: Intermediate AMD Many medium-sized drusen or one or more large drusen in on or both eyes.
- Category 4: Advanced Dry AMD In one eye only, either a breakdown of light-sensitive cells and supporting tissue in the central retinal area (Advanced dry form), or abnormal and fragile blood vessels under the retina.
- Category 4: A disease study found decreased blood flow velocity in common eye retinal arteries in patients with AMD
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MACULAR DEGENERATION
- Eye conditions vary from normal Vision No signs or symptoms when developing AMD
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- Early AMD May be difficult to notice symptoms until condition worsens or both eyes are affected. The first macular degeneration symptoms are a general distortion of straight lines. Intermediate AMD May cause some vision loss, but many will not notice the symptoms. Others may see distortion of straight lines. This may become a gradual loss of central vision, with a gray to black blind spot. If possible avoid blue light. Possible change in colors.
ADVANCED AMD
- 1. Geographic Atrophy The end stage of dry macular degeneration. Over the course of years, the areas of atrophy stay small, but when the AMD affects the portion of the retina surrounding RPE, or light receptors in the eye, the area enlarges and coalesces irregularly in the optic nerve. This change results in severe vision loss.
- 2. Neovascular AMD is the final stage of wet agerelated macular degeneration. Abnormal blood vessels grow weak under the retina and leak blood and fluid, causing immediate loss of central vision within the human eye.
- Download PDF Progression of AMD