Macular Clinic
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition that affects the central part of your vision. It doesn’t normally affect your peripheral (side) vision, so the vision to the side and edges should not be affected. It is the most common cause of visual loss in the UK affecting older people
What Is Your Macula?
It’s your own 5 Mega Pixel camera sitting at the very back of your eye, it’s only four millimetres in diameter and it’s the only part of your eye that sees things in full colour and fine detail.
Age-related Macular Degeneration
What Is AMD?
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition that affects the central part of your vision. It’s the leading cause of blindness in the over 65s in westernised countries, affecting up to 27% of this population. There are around 500,000 people in the UK with AMD.
It is caused by damage to the macular region of the eye, which is the part of the retina that provides detailed, central vision. It doesn’t normally affect your peripheral (side) vision, so while objects in the centre of your vision may become difficult to see, the vision to the side and edges should not be affected.
Symptoms of AMD
Some types of AMD need to be treated quickly, so it’s important to see us urgently if you notice a sudden change in:
- Clarity – A decrease in vision particularly in one eye
- Colour – Changes in colour perception or depth of colour
- Quality – Image distortion i.e. straight lines becoming bent or wobbly, grey patches or holes in your field of vision
Risk Factors for AMD
You are more likely to develop AMD if you:
- Are over 65 years old
- Have a history of AMD in your family
- Are a cigarette smoker
- Sunlight exposure without protection
- Poor diet / overweight
- Female
Treatment for AMD
There are now treatments available in some cases for wet AMD but they must be applied as soon as possible. In some cases AMD can be managed with special magnifiers, good lighting, nutritional supplements and changes to diet and lifestyle.
Book Into Our Macular Clinic
If you are concerned about Macular Degeneration book in with our optometrists. They are experienced in dealing with AMD and use our state-of-the-art OTC scanners to look for early stages of the disease and monitor your condition.