Age-Related Macular Degeneration Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences What is it? Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in individuals over the age of 65 in developed countries. It is due to ageing and deterioration of the central portion of the retina (macula) at the back of the eye. AMD affects central vision necessary for recognising faces, driving, reading and looking at details. There are two types of AMD, the dry and the wet type. Dry AMD is the more common of the two. It usually progresses slowly and vision loss is not severe except at very advanced stages. It is characterised by yellowishwhite deposits (drusen) and loss of retinal cells resulting in changes in central vision. Wet AMD is less common, but it often results in severe loss of vision. Abnormal blood vessels grow in the eye, which leak fluid and blood.
Figure 1. Normal Macula (right eye)
Figure 2. Dry AMD - Multiple drusen in the macula (right eye)
Figure 3. Wet AMD Abnormal new blood vessels under the macula (right eye)
Figure 4. Wet AMD - Severe bleeding from abnormal new blood vessels under the macula (same eye as Figure 3)
Figure 5. Late Wet AMD Scarring of the macula due to wet AMD (left eye)