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COLUMBUS – Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans age 50 and older. Ocular disease damages the macula, a small point near the center of the retina and the part of the eye that is needed for clear central vision.
In Ohio, Prevent Blindness affiliate recognizes February as Age-Related Macular Degeneration / Low Vision Awareness Month, to raise public awareness of risk factors for AMD, treatment options and Moreover.
There are two types of AMD.
Dry AMD is the most common form of AMD: "dry" AMD. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, about 80% of people with AMD have the dry form. Dry AMD is caused by the appearance of small yellow deposits called drusen, which form under the retina. These are accumulated waste in the retina, which can grow and stop the flow of nutrients to the retina. This will cause retinal cells to die of the light-transformed macula, making vision blurred. This form of the disease usually worsens slowly.
Wet AMD usually causes faster and more severe vision loss. In this form of the disease, new blood vessels develop under and in the retina. These blood vessels are fragile and break and often leak, resulting in vision loss. The Mayo Clinic indicates that people whose wet macular degeneration has progressed to central vision loss have a higher risk of depression and social isolation. In case of profound loss of vision, patients may see visual hallucinations (Charles Bonnet syndrome).
The retina is located at the back of the eye and any change in the retina can only be seen by an ophthalmologist using special equipment. Many people with AMD may not be aware of it until they notice significant changes in their vision. Although there is no curative treatment for AMD, the progression of vision loss can be slowed down if it is detected and treated quickly by an eye care professional.
Vision changes due to AMD include:
- Difficulty seeing central vision
- Difficulty seeing in the dark
- Straight lines start to appear wavy, fuzzy or missing
- Discoloration and / or change in color appearance
Prevent Blindness also offers the free online resource "Living Well with Low Vision", which features an extensive list of local directories of low vision resources searchable, useful textbooks for patients and caregivers, as well as a blog informative presenting information for people. living with age-related eye disease and significant visual impairment, written by Patient Advocate and Low Vision Educator, Dan Roberts, MME
For more information on AMD and low vision resources, please contact Prevent Blindness at 800-301-2020 or visit www.pbohio.org. For a free list of organizations and services that provide financial badistance for vision care in English or Spanish, visit https://www.preventblindness.org/vision-care-financial-badistance-information.
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