Old man with macular degnerationt trying to read

Macular degeneration

Understanding AMD to help prevent and treat it more effectively. Our educational videos and explanations guide you through every step.

  • Around one in three people over the age of 75 is affected by AMD
  • The leading cause of visual impairment in people over 50 in industrialised countries
  • Four educational videos available

The two forms of AMD

The macula is the central part of the retina that enables us to see fine details, read, recognise faces and perceive colours. AMD is an age-related condition that gradually damages this area and impairs central vision. It can progress slowly (dry or atrophic form) or more rapidly, with the development of abnormal blood vessels beneath the retina (wet or neovascular form).

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

This early stage is characterised by the presence of yellowish deposits, known as drusen, and changes in the deepest layer of the retina and the pigment epithelium, sometimes without any visual symptoms. Regular monitoring is essential at this stage.

Atrophic (dry) AMD

The photoreceptor cells and pigment epithelium cells of the macula gradually disappear, leading to a thinning of the retina and a slow but irreversible loss of vision

Exudative (wet) AMD

New, abnormal blood vessels originating from the vessels beneath the macula – the choroid – penetrate the membrane separating it from the pigment epithelium and leak beneath or into the retina, causing a relatively rapid, though rarely sudden, loss of vision.

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Risk factors

  • Age ≥ 50 years: the main risk factor, with the incidence rising sharply with age
  • Genetics: a family history of AMD and genetic predisposition
  • Smoking: the main modifiable risk factor and a factor in disease progression
  • Cardiovascular health: high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases are associated with an increased risk
  • Unbalanced diet: a diet low in antioxidants and omega-3s

Symptoms by stage

Early stage

No noticeable symptoms in everyday life. The first changes to the retina are usually only detected during an eye examination.

Intermediate stage

Vision that is sometimes less clear, a need for more light when reading, difficulty adapting to dim lighting when reading, and difficulty adapting to rapid changes in lighting.

Advanced stage

The appearance of a blurred or dark spot in the centre of your vision, distortion of straight lines, and difficulty reading, driving or recognising faces.

Treatments

Prevention

Adopting a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of AMD: giving up smoking, eating a diet rich in antioxidants (fruit, vegetables and fish), taking regular exercise, protecting your eyes from UV rays and, in some cases, taking dietary supplements recommended by your ophthalmologist.

Wet AMD — Anti-VEGF injections


Intravitreal injections administered at regular intervals block the growth and leakage of abnormal blood vessels beneath the retina, helping to stabilise vision and, in some cases, improve it.

Dry AMD — Treatments and Research


Some recent treatments can slow the progression of dry AMD, but they cannot restore lost vision. Research is progressing rapidly and new treatment approaches are being developed — consult your specialist regularly.

Are you worried about your eyesight?

The earlier AMD is detected, the better the visual prognosis. Do not wait until symptoms appear before consulting a specialist ophthalmologist.

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