This serious eye condition can occur in people with macular degeneration. Find out about its symptoms and treatments.
Update Date: 17.05.2025
Geographic atrophy is a serious eye condition. It occurs in people with another eye condition called age-related macular degeneration. It is most common in people over age 60.
Over time, geographic atrophy can lead to loss of central vision, which helps you see what is in front of you. This happens when the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye, called the retina, is damaged. The damaged retina can get larger over time, causing increasing vision loss.
Geographic atrophy can affect one or both eyes. There is no cure, but the FDA has approved some new therapies to slow down its progression. Other new treatments are being studied in clinical trials.
People with geographic atrophy may notice changes in vision that start slowly and get worse over time. Geographic atrophy often starts just outside the center of the retina and slowly moves inward. As it grows, you can lose central vision or have blurred or blind spots.
Many people keep decent central vision early on, but as geographic atrophy spreads, this vision can be lost. Vision loss can become severe over time. It can make it hard to drive, read, watch TV and do household chores. People with geographic atrophy usually keep their side vision, known as peripheral vision.
Geographic atrophy can develop quickly. See your eye doctor right away if you notice any of these changes:
Geographic atrophy is an eye condition that can occur in people with another eye condition called dry age-related macular degeneration. It causes gradual loss of vision in people, usually as they age. It affects parts of the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye.
The cause of geographic atrophy is not fully known. One main cause is damage to a layer of cells that support the retina. This is called the retinal pigment epithelium. The damage can happen because of natural aging or due to outside factors such as smoking.
Over time, this damage causes yellow deposits called drusen to form. These deposits are a sign of early retina damage. Drusen are made up of fats and pieces of cells. Drusen can make the immune system react, causing swelling. This leads to the death of important cells in the retina called photoreceptors. Photoreceptors help you see.
As these cells die, parts of the retina start to break down. This loss of cells and damage to the retina causes central vision to get blurry. It can lead to vision loss over time.
Currently, there is no cure for geographic atrophy. But scientists are researching ways to slow down the damage and help protect the retina from further harm.
Some people have a higher chance of developing geographic atrophy. Risk factors include:
Other eye conditions can develop with geographic atrophy, including:
To help manage the condition, understand your risk factors and schedule regular eye exams. Ask your eye doctor how you can help preserve your independence and quality of life. If you notice sudden vision changes, especially blind spots or distorted lines, call your eye doctor right away. Work with your eye care professional team to find the best treatment for you.
There is no sure way to prevent geographic atrophy. However, these steps may help:
Eye doctors often use several tests to find geographic atrophy and check how it changes over time.
Until 2023, there were no approved treatments for geographic atrophy. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, also called the FDA, has approved two medicines for treatment. These are called avacincaptad pegol (Izervay) and pegcetacoplan (Syfovre). The medicines block proteins that might damage the retina. However, there is no lasting cure for geographic atrophy.
These treatments are given as shots in the eye. The shots generally are given every 1 to 2 months. Talk with your eye doctor to see if these medicines may be an option for you.
Side effects of the treatment can include:
Gene therapy is being studied as a treatment for geographic atrophy.
Your eye doctor likely will ask you to have regular follow-up exams. This is to track any changes in your vision.
Your eye doctor also may ask you to use an Amsler grid. This test helps you check for changes in your vision at home. Using an Amsler grid each week can help you notice changes such as new blank spots or lines that look wavy.
Vision loss from geographic atrophy can affect everyday life. These tips may help:
Talk with your eye doctor about other ways to stay independent.
You likely will need an eye exam and testing to check for geographic atrophy. Make an appointment with a doctor who specializes in eye care — an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.
Before your appointment:
For geographic atrophy, questions to ask include:
Your eye doctor is likely to ask you a few questions, such as:
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