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Home | Eyecare | Eye Health | Macular Degeneration
 More articles related to Macular Degeneration
 SpotLight : Macular Degeneration
How do I know if I have Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
Your ophthalmologist can give you a definitive diagnosis after a retinal examination. To a trained professional, the signs of macular degeneration are apparent when the eye is dilated and a special lens is used to see the retina.
Will I go blind? Will I eventually see nothing but blackness?
If your vision loss is only from age-related macular degeneration, you will never go completely blind. AMD affects the central vision only. Your peripheral vision will remain and you will always be able to see "out of the corner of your eye". If you have other eye problems like cataracts and glaucoma, these may be affecting even your peripheral vision. But the macular degeneration itself does not affect the periphery of the retina.
I have a cataract. Is it safe to have it removed or will it make my macular degeneration worse?
The decision to remove a cataract is always an individual one. For the most part, cataract removal does not appear to contribute to worsening of age-related macular degeneration. However, when the cataract is removed, some patients report worse AMD vision than before the cataract. But this may be due to the fact that the AMD got worse during the time the cataract was developing. Usually, the ophthalmologist removes a cataract only when the vision gets bad enough to warrant a surgery. As the cataract develops and vision worsens, the patient's AMD may also be getting worse. But because the cataract is interferring with vision, the patient may not be aware of the central vision changes. The cataract also prevents the doctor from seeing through to the back of the eye and noting any AMD changes taking place. You should discuss this issue thoroughly with your surgeon as each individual case is unique.
I have had dry AMD for years. Does this mean I'm going to get wet AMD too?
The course of development for macular degeneration is different in each person. Some people have only the dry form for decades and never develop the wet form. However, if you have the dry form, or have AMD in one eye, your risk is definitely higher for getting AMD in the other eye and for developing the wet form. This is why it is so important to use the Amsler Grid daily to check for any changes that may occur.
No one else in my family has AMD. Why did I get it?
There is clearly a genetic component - and your risk of AMD is higher if there are other family members who have it. We don't fully understand how this works. If there is a gene that determines AMD and multiple family members have it, why don't they all get the eye disease? Much of the research is focused on identifying the gene or genes of AMD and figuring out why some people get it and others don't. Other factors appear to contribute to the development of AMD. You may have developed it because of lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking, high blood pressure or exposure to ultraviolet light. Unfortunately, we don't have all the answers to this question.
I keep trying magnifiers to help me read, but they just don't work ! What can I do?
Some people find immediate help in using common hand-held magnifying glasses. For many people, this approach is not enough. Just as your eyeglasses are a different prescription from someone else, your magnifier may need to be professionally prescribed. See a low vision specialist or contact one of the resources in our Related Links. You can also explore other devices such as closed circuit television, screen readers or voice systems. Don't give up! There is a whole world of assistive devices available. Find the one that works for you.
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