Age Related Macular Degeneration - An Overview

Age Related Macular Degeneration, known asof AMD. Stop smoking. Watch your weight, and
AMD, is a disease that little by little destroys thecontrol your blood pressure. Eat a diet that is high
sharp, central vision. It keeps the person fromin green, leafy vegetables and fish. Exercise
being able to perform common everyday tasksfaithfully.
such as reading or driving. The person can noThere are two types of AMD: wet and dry. In
longer see details. There is no pain involved.the dry type, the first symptom people notice is
AMD is one of the main causes of vision loss inblurred vision. It becomes difficult to see details
people over the age of 60. It may come ondirectly in front of them such as print in books or
slowly, and the person may not even be awarepeople's faces. As the disease progresses, the
of a change in his vision. In other people itperson may see a dark spot in the center of
progresses rapidly, and it may affect both eyes.their vision.
Age Related Macular Degeneration affects theThe first symptom of the wet type is seeing
macula which is located in the center of the retinastraight lines as being crooked. In the advanced
at the back of the eye. It allows you to see smallstage, the dark spot appears in the central vision.
details. It is responsible for central vision, whichThis results in the same vision difficulties that are
allows you to read and drive.common to dry AMD.
Smoking and obesity are two controllable riskThere is no permanent cure for AMD once it
factors of AMD. Interestingly enough, whites arereaches the advanced stage. There are things
more likely to lose their vision from this diseasedoctors can do to slow down the progress of
than blacks. Women and people who haveboth wet and dry AMD in the early stages. The
immediate family members with AMD arebest solution is to lower the risk factors before
considered to be part of the high risk group.the disease starts.
Lifestyle definitely plays a role in reducing the risk