Eyeclopedia

Age Related Macular Degeneration

Age Related Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in America. It is a disease that affects the macula, the central area of the retina responsible for fine, detailed vision (i.e. reading, driving, recognizing faces, watching TV). As we age, the macula thins and deposits called drusen are formed. There are 3 types of ARMD:

• "Dry" or atrophic; a slow, degenerative process with gradual vision loss over many years.
• "Wet" which occurs suddenly. Symptoms include blurry vision, or straight lines appearing distorted.
• "PED" or Pigment Epithelial Detachment, where blister-like lesions form under the macula and fill with blood.