Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

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Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

What is AMD? - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision. It usually first affects people in their 50s and 60s.
  • It doesn't cause total blindness. But it can make everyday activities like reading and recognising faces difficult.
  • Without treatment, your vision may get worse. This can happen gradually over several years ("dry AMD"), or quickly over a few weeks or months ("wet AMD").
  • The exact cause is unknown. It's been linked to smoking, high blood pressure, being overweight and having a family history of AMD.

Page last reviewed: 27 March 2018
Next review due: 27 March 2021

Symptoms - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

AMD affects the middle part of your vision, not the edges (peripheral vision).

You can get it in one eye or both.

Blurred book showing what vision is like for a person with early AMD
The first symptom is often a blurred or distorted area in your vision
A dark patch in the vision of someone with AMD
If it gets worse, you might struggle to see anything in the middle of your vision

AMD can make things like reading, watching TV, driving or recognising faces difficult.

Other symptoms include:

  • seeing straight lines as wavy or crooked
  • objects looking smaller than normal
  • colours seeming less bright than they used to
  • seeing things that aren't there (hallucinations)

AMD isn't painful and doesn't affect the appearance of your eyes.

Information:

Sometimes AMD may be found during a routine eye test before you have symptoms.

Non-urgent advice: See an optician if you're worried about your vision

If you have a problem with your eyes, early diagnosis and treatment may help stop your vision getting worse.

Find an opticians

Urgent advice: Get an urgent opticians appointment if:

  • your vision gets suddenly worse
  • you have a dark "curtain" or shadow moving across your vision
  • your eye is red and painful

These aren't symptoms of AMD but can be signs of other eye problems that need to be treated immediately.

Go to A&E or call 111 straight away if you can't get an urgent appointment.

Find an A&E department

Page last reviewed: 27 March 2018
Next review due: 27 March 2021

Getting diagnosed - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

What happens at your opticians appointment

You'll be seen by a specialist called an optometrist.

They'll use a magnifying glass with a light to look at the back of your eyes and check your vision.

They may put drops in your eyes to make it easier for them to spot any problems. These can make your vision blurry for a few hours.

Important

Don't drive until your vision goes back to normal. This may take 4 to 6 hours.

Referral to a specialist

Sometimes you may be referred to an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) or specialist AMD service. This is usually only necessary if there's a possibility you'll need to start treatment quickly. You should be referred within a day.

You may have more tests, such as a scan of the back of your eyes.

What happens if you're diagnosed with AMD

If you're diagnosed with AMD, the specialist will talk to you about what it is, what type you have and what the treatment options are.

Types of AMD
Dry AMD Wet AMD
Caused by a build-up of a fatty substance called drusen at the back of the eyes Caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels at the back of the eyes
Common Less common
Gets worse gradually – usually over several years Can get worse quickly – sometimes in days or weeks
No treatment – unless it develops into wet AMD Treatment can help stop vision getting worse

It might be difficult to take in everything the specialist tells you.

If you're unsure about something later, write down any questions you have and make another appointment to go over them.

Information:

The Macular Society has information you might find useful. It also has a helpline on 0300 3030 111.

Page last reviewed: 27 March 2018
Next review due: 27 March 2021

Treatments - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Treatment depends on the type of AMD you have.

  • Dry AMD – there's no treatment, but vision aids can help reduce the effect on your life. Read about living with AMD.
  • Wet AMD – you may need regular eye injections and, very occasionally, a light treatment called "photodynamic therapy" to stop your vision getting worse.
What the different types mean
Dry AMD Wet AMD
Caused by a build-up of a fatty substance called drusen at the back of the eyes Caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels at the back of the eyes
Common Less common
Gets worse gradually – usually over several years Can get worse quickly – sometimes in days or weeks
No treatment – unless it develops into wet AMD Treatment can help stop vision getting worse

Eye injections

Anti-VEGF medicines – ranibizumab (Lucentis) and aflibercept (Eylea)

Injections given directly into the eyes.

  • stops vision getting worse in 9 out of 10 people and improves vision in 3 out of 10 people
  • usually given every 1 or 2 months for as long as necessary
  • drops numb the eyes before treatment – most people have minimal discomfort
  • side effects include bleeding in the eye, feeling like there's something in the eye, and eyes being red and irritated

The Macular Society has more on injections for wet AMD.

Light treatment

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

A light is shined at the back of the eyes to destroy the abnormal blood vessels that cause wet AMD.

  • may be recommended alongside eye injections if injections alone don't help
  • usually needs to be repeated every few months
  • side effects include temporary vision problems, and the eyes and skin being sensitive to light for a few days or weeks

Read more about photodynamic therapy.

Research into new treatments

Research into new treatments for AMD is ongoing. Your specialist can let you know if there are any studies you could take part in.

You can also search the UK Clinical Trials Gateway (UKCTG) to find studies.

Page last reviewed: 27 March 2018
Next review due: 27 March 2021

Living with AMD - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Help with low vision

Speak to your eye specialist about a referral to a low-vision clinic if you're having difficulty with daily activities.

Staff at the clinic can give useful advice and practical support. For example, they can talk to you about:

  • useful devices – such as magnifying lenses
  • changes you can make to your home – such as brighter lighting
  • software and mobile apps that can make computers and phones easier to use

If you have poor vision in both eyes, your specialist may refer you for a type of training called eccentric viewing training.

This involves learning techniques that help make the most of your remaining vision.

Read more about help and support if you have low vision.

Staying healthy

AMD is often linked to an unhealthy lifestyle. If you have it, try to:

There's some evidence to suggest that certain health supplements might help stop AMD getting worse, but this isn't definitive.

Important

Speak to your GP or specialist if you're considering taking supplements for AMD. They're not suitable for everyone.

The Macular Society has more on diet and nutrition for AMD.

Driving

AMD can make it unsafe for you to drive. Ask your specialist if they think you should stop driving.

You're required by law to tell DVLA about your condition if:

Find out how to tell DVLA about a medical condition.

Monitoring and check-ups

You'll have regular check-ups with a specialist to monitor your condition.

Contact your specialist as soon as possible if your vision gets worse or you notice any new symptoms.

Information:

Keep having routine eye tests (usually every 2 years). They can pick up other eye problems that your check-ups don't look for.

Registering as sight impaired

If your vision continues to get worse, you may want to consider registering your sight loss.

This can make it easier to claim financial benefits, such as help with health costs.

Your specialist can check your vision and complete an official certificate if you meet the requirements to be registered.

RNIB has more on registering your sight loss.

Getting more help and support

Living with AMD can be very difficult.

In addition to support from your specialist, you may find it useful to use support groups such as:

Important

See a GP if you've been feeling low for more than 2 weeks. They can offer support and treatment if you need it.

Page last reviewed: 27 March 2018
Next review due: 27 March 2021