Macula is the name given to the central part of the retina where the largest concentration of visual cells (cones) gather, and the area we use in order to see. This is the noblest part of the retina and the involved one when we refer to AMD. As the name suggests, AMD is an age-related degeneration of the macula and for this reason it usually affects elderly people.

There basically exist two kinds of AMD: the dry or atrophic one and the wet or exudative one. The atrophic form entails a slimming of the retinal layers as well as the pigment epithelium causing a disintegration of the macula with its consequent function disorder.

The exudative form takes place when new vessels grow in the macular or paramacular area releasing liquid and blood and causing an accumulation of them both under the retina. If this isn’t treated early enough, its natural evolution is creating a central scar.

AMD is characterised by a diminishment of visual acuity and by the presence of metamorphopsia (please see metamorphopsia test in the Visual Tests section). The appearance of symptoms in patients suffering from the exudative form is usually sudden whereas in those with the atrophic one it is slower.

In spite of the fact that there isn’t a preventive treatment for AMD we do know there exist risk factors for its appearance such as heredity, smoking or sun exposure without protection (UVA rays). For this reason, it is essential that those people with a potential risk of suffering from it, and the entire population too, adopt healthy lifestyles like smoking cessation, protection against UVA rays by means of sunglasses and the inclusion of Omega 3 rich foods in their diets such as that contained in oily fish, olive oil, vegetables, etc. Currently there isn’t any effective treatment for the atrophic form. There exist several ongoing clinical trials in order to try to improve the quality of life of these patients but, so far, with no results. The treatment for exudative AMD involves the injection of an antiangiogenic medicine into the eye. This drug enables a regression of new blood vessels preventing them from releasing liquid.

The answer is a categorical NO. AMD favours a reduction (which in some cases is truly severe) of central vision. Nevertheless, it doesn’t affect the rest of peripheral vision so patients will always keep visual field and will never go blind.