What Is Dry AMD?
Macular degeneration is the deterioration of a particular part of your eye, the macula. The macula is the central part of your retina, which controls central vision - the vision directly in front of you.
People with macular degeneration don’t lose all their vision. Their peripheral vision (seeing things around the side) remains, but it can make tasks such as reading or recognising people challenging.
Dry AMD is a type of macular degeneration that can begin to affect people as they age. It can develop in one or both eyes, and vary in severity from blurring to full central vision loss. Despite the name, it doesn’t mean the eyes are necessarily dry - it’s the more common form of AMD, and can be an earlier stage of wet AMD.
One of the main signs of dry AMD is the appearance of drusen in the eye. These are small yellow deposits of waste products and lipids that grow and multiple, so that the macula may become less able to interpret visual signals.
Causes of Dry AMD
There is no one cause of dry macular degeneration. However, there are several factors that may influence it:
Family History
If your parents, grandparents, or siblings have dry AMD, this could put you at a higher likelihood of experiencing it.
Age
Dry AMD is most common in people over 50. While younger people can be affected, this is rare.
Smoking
Smokers are at a much higher likelihood of developing dry macular degeneration. Many studies have linked smoking to damaged eye health and other conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Sunlight Exposure
There is evidence to suggest that prolonged exposure to sunlight can contribute to dry AMD.
Symptoms of Dry AMD
Symptoms of dry AMD can develop slowly and painlessly. They can include:
Struggling to see in low light.
Blurry and distorted vision.
Changes in the way you see colours.
Gaps or dark spots in your vision.
Straight lines appearing bent.
Words vanishing when reading.
These symptoms can vary from person to person, and may be hard to spot at first — even for the person whose vision is affected.
Stages of Dry AMD
There are several stages of age-related macular degeneration to be aware of:
Early Macular Degeneration
In the early stages, dry AMD can cause almost no symptoms. You may only be aware you have it if an optician or doctor identifies it during an exam. In this stage, drusen is beginning to build up under the retina.
Mid-Stage Macular Degeneration
More advanced age-related macular degeneration is when most people begin to experience symptoms. This can include blurred vision and difficulty seeing in lower lighting, as the drusen become larger and more accumulate.
Late Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration can occur over a period of years, and take a long time to get to the latest stages. In this stage, symptoms are much more pronounced, such as colours becoming duller and blank spots appearing in the central field of vision.
Dry AMD Diagnosis
OCT Scan
An optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan takes highly detailed images of the back of your eye, including the retina. This can show doctors if there is any drusen buildup thinning of the tissue.
OCT A Scan
Another version of an OCT scan, this involves a detailed scan of the blood flow through the vessels in the retina to allow any abnormal vessels to be identified. This is especially helpful in diagnosing wet AMD conversion.
Amsler Grid Test
An Amsler grid is made up of straight lines with a dot in the middle, which your optician may ask you to look at. If any of the lines appear wavy or blurred, it could be a sign you have macular degeneration or it’s getting worse. You may take an Amsler grid home with you to track the progression of your condition.
Dilated Eye Exam
Optometrists can dilate your pupils with eye drops to better view the back of your retina. They can then examine your macula to check for any signs of drusen or disease.
Fluorescein Angiography (FFA)
FFA allows doctors to see the circulation within the retina with a yellow dye which is injected into the bloodstream. This can be helpful in diagnosing wet AMD, as it will show if any dye leaks into the retina from broken capillaries.
Dry AMD Treatments
Treating dry AMD can help manage the condition and slow down the changes to your vision. One cutting-edge treatment method is photobiomodulation (PBM), a form of light therapy used by us here at DryAMD Clinic to stimulate cellular activity and promote healing within the eye. We use a blend of red and yellow light to reduce oxidative stress within the eyes, targeting inflammation and helping to slow or even reverse the progress of age-related macular degeneration. Discover more about our appointments here.
Start Dry AMD Treatment With Dry AMD Clinics
If you’re struggling with dry age-related macular degeneration, get in touch with DryAMD today. With cutting-edge photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, we can help slow the progress of macular degeneration as much as possible, preserving your vision.
Book your appointment today to discover more and start treatment.
Dry AMD FAQs
How Can I Help Manage Dry AMD?
If you have age-related macular degeneration, there are several ways you can help manage it alongside regular treatment. Vision aids such as magnifiers can help with close reading, and you can consider vision rehabilitation to help you strengthen your remaining vision and find compensatory strategies.
Regular eye tests are also crucial to keep track of the progression, so if your vision changes, you can work with your doctor to help manage it.
How Common Is Dry AMD?
Age-related macular degeneration affects approximately one in every 200 people over the age of 60 in the UK. As people get older, AMD becomes more common - it affects one in every 5 people over 90.
80 to 85% of people affected with age-related macular degeneration will have dry AMD.
Does Dry AMD Affect Both Eyes?
Dry AMD can affect both eyes, although it usually develops just in one eye first before progressing to the other. When developing in just one eye, people may not notice any changes to their vision at first, as their other eye can compensate for any visual impairments.
What Are The New Treatments For Dry AMD?
The new treatments for dry AMD focus on preserving the photoreceptors for as long as possible, slowing the overall progression of degeneration. Photobiomodulation (PBM) treatment restores the mitochondria function in the eye, which powers the cells and in turn increases energy (ATP) production. This helps to reduce oxidative stress within the eye and slows the progression of AMD, supporting retinal health.
Who Is At Risk For Dry AMD?
Older people over the age of 50 are more at risk of age-related macular degeneration, as well as smokers and those with an unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity can also be a risk factor, and potentially accelerate the development of AMD.
Cardiovascular disease and hypertension have also been linked to a higher risk for AMD, and people with a family history stand a higher chance of developing it in the future.
Can You Prevent Macular Degeneration?
While there is no way to fully prevent age-related macular degeneration, there are several things you can do to mitigate your risk for developing it:
- Stop smoking - If you’re a smoker, quitting is the best thing you can do for your eye health. Speak to your doctor for help quitting.
- Manage your weight - Obesity is linked to eye health issues, so maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly to help manage your weight.
- Eat a healthy diet - Choose foods rich in vitamins and minerals to keep your eyes and your body healthy.