Can You Go Blind From Age-related Macular Degeneration?

Individuals over 60 are most likely to experience severe vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration. It develops when the central portion of your retina, called the macula, wears down. Your retina is light-sensitive nerve tissue located at the back of your eye. The eye disease develops as you age. 

Types and Stages of Age-related Macular Degeneration

There are two main types of AMD:

Dry Macular Degeneration

Individuals with this type of AMD have yellow deposits on their macula called drusen. Having small amounts of drusen cannot affect your vision. But as they become big and more, they tend to distort and dim vision. You may notice the vision changes when you are reading.

As your condition worsens, the light-sensitive cells in the macula become thinner and eventually die. You may experience blind spots in the center of your sight. As it gets worse, you may lose your central vision.

Wet Macular Degeneration

People with this form have blood vessels growing under their macula, which leak fluid and blood into the retina. Vision becomes distorted, and you may see straight lines as wavy. You can also have blind spots and eventually loss of central vision. 

The blood vessels can eventually form a scar from the bleeding. As a result, you can permanently lose your central vision.

Symptoms of Age-related Macular Degeneration

You will not have noticeable signs in the early stages of the condition. You may not get a diagnosis until AMD affects both eyes or gets worse. Some of the signs that show you may have AMD include having a less clear or worse vision. 

You may see things as blurry, or you may struggle to drive or read the fine print. Your direct line of sight may have blurry and dark areas. You can also develop a different color perception.

 

Risk Factors of AMD

Below are some of the factors that increase your risk of this condition:

• Aging can increase your risk of getting AMD. The eye disease is common in individuals above 60.
• Genetics and family history determine whether you get AMD. The eye disease has a hereditary or genetic component. 
• Caucasians develop AMD more than other races.
• Being obese increases your chances of getting this condition.
• Cardiovascular disease increases your risk of getting AMD.
• Smoking cigarettes increases your chances of developing AMD.

Will You Go Blind from Age-related Macular Degeneration?

Individuals with AMD rarely lose their sight. You may lose or have a poor central vision. But as the condition progresses, you can still see on the sides. You will manage to do your daily activities. The disease usually does not cause blindness, but you can have severe vision problems.

Prevention

Going for routine eye exams is essential to identify early signs of the disease. Do your best to manage other medical conditions like high blood pressure. If you are a smoker, it's time you quit. Your doctor can help you stop smoking if you need help from a third party.

Exercising can help you maintain a healthy weight to reduce your risk of developing AMD. Eat a diet rich in vegetables and fruits to ingest antioxidants to keep your eyes healthy. Including fish in your meals helps reduce AMD because of the omega-3 fatty acids in the fish.

For more on age-related macular degeneration, visit Clarity Vision at our offices in Apex, Clayton, Holly Springs, Smithfield, Williamston, North Carolina, or Suffolk, Virginia. You can also call (919) 367-2832, (919) 550-4801, (919) 646-2900, (919) 737-7200, (252) 792-2250, or (757) 638-2015 today to book an appointment.