Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss in people over 50. It affects the macula, the small central part of the retina responsible for the sharp, detailed vision you rely on for reading, recognizing faces, and driving. When the macula breaks down, everyday tasks become harder, even when peripheral (side) vision remains intact.
Retina & Vitreous of Texas provides expert macular degeneration care to patients in Beaumont, Bellaire, and surrounding communities.
What Is AMD?
Age-related macular degeneration is a disease that affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision.
The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. At its center sits the macula, which handles fine detail and color. As you age, small deposits called drusen can collect in the macula. A few small ones are a normal part of aging and typically don’t cause any problems. AMD is what happens when those deposits become larger or more numerous, interfering with how the macula functions.
These deposits are the defining feature of AMD and can be detected by your eye doctor during a dilated eye exam.
AMD is largely an age-related condition, meaning the risk increases as you get older. Lifestyle factors like smoking also play a significant role. People who use tobacco products face a much higher risk of the disease advancing to its more serious form.
Dry AMD vs. Wet AMD
AMD can develop in one of two ways, known as dry AMD and wet AMD.
Dry AMD is the more common type, affecting the vast majority of people diagnosed with AMD. It progresses slowly over time as drusen build up and the cells beneath the retina gradually break down. Those cells normally keep the retina healthy by delivering nutrients and clearing waste, so when they deteriorate, central vision can become blurry, distorted, or patchy. The process is slow enough that many people don’t notice how much their vision has changed until it’s examined.
Wet AMD is less common but much more serious. Abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak fluid or blood, which disrupts how the retina works. Vision changes can happen quickly, sometimes over days or weeks, including blurring, distortion, and gaps in central sight. Without treatment, those leaking vessels can leave behind scar tissue and cause permanent vision loss.
If you notice any sudden change in vision, it’s best to see your eye doctor right away.
Is AMD Hereditary?
AMD does have a genetic component, meaning it can run in families. If a parent or sibling has been diagnosed, your risk may be higher, and that’s something your eye doctor should know about.
Having a family history doesn’t mean AMD is inevitable. Plenty of people with a family history never develop AMD, and it’s also common in people with no family connection to the disease at all.
How AMD Is Treated
There is currently no cure for AMD, but there are effective ways to slow its progression and, in the case of wet AMD, actually preserve or recover vision.
Managing Dry AMD
With dry AMD, the goal is to slow things down and reduce the chance of it progressing to the wet form.
Your eye doctor may recommend taking AREDS, which are vitamins and antioxidants that may help lower the risk of the disease advancing. Your doctor can tell you whether those supplements make sense for your situation.
Quitting smoking, or never starting, is one of the most meaningful things you can do. Tobacco use is strongly linked to faster progression and a higher chance of dry AMD converting to the more serious wet form.
Treating Wet AMD
Wet AMD is treated with injections called anti-VEGF therapy. These medications, including Avastin, Lucentis, and Eylea, work by blocking the signals that trigger abnormal blood vessel growth. Once those vessels stop leaking, vision can stabilize and, in many cases, improve.
The injections are given directly into the eye because eye drops or pills can’t deliver medication effectively to the back of the eye. The procedure is done in the office, takes just a few minutes, and numbing drops are used beforehand to keep it comfortable.
Most patients need ongoing injections over time since the underlying condition doesn’t go away entirely. In some cases, a cold laser treatment called photodynamic therapy (PDT) may be used alongside injections for additional support.
Why Early Detection Matters
AMD caught early gives doctors the most options. In the early stages of wet AMD, especially, anti-VEGF treatment can preserve a significant amount of vision before permanent damage occurs. Once scarring develops, that lost vision cannot be restored.
Regular dilated eye exams are the most reliable way to detect AMD before symptoms appear. If you notice any sudden distortion, blurring, or dark spots in your central vision, contact your eye doctor right away rather than waiting for a scheduled appointment.
Your retina specialist will evaluate your unique situation and discuss which treatment approach fits your type and stage of AMD. Personalized care matters here because there are several subtypes of wet AMD, and the optimal management plan can vary from one patient to the next.
Have concerns about your vision or family history of AMD? Schedule an appointment at Retina & Vitreous of Texas, serving Beaumont, Bellaire, Houston, and the greater Texas area, today!