| Age related macular degeneration, also referred | | | | does preclude driving and makes reading |
| to as AMD or ARMD, which is a condition | | | | extremely difficult. |
| affecting central vision, presents itself in two | | | | Wet ARMD, is the neovascular form, and moves |
| unique forms: dry and wet. Each form has specific | | | | significantly faster than the dry form. The dry |
| and unique characteristics, while both still produce | | | | form can take years to reach an advanced stage, |
| a reduction in central vision. In both cases, the | | | | if it reaches an advanced stage at all. Wet |
| majority of affected individuals are elderly, with | | | | macular degeneration, when it begins can manifest |
| early indicators sometimes arising in middle age. | | | | with vision loss in as little as a matter of months, |
| Dry AMD, also called non-neovascular macular | | | | however, it virtually never occurs without dry |
| degeneration, is the slower of the two conditions. | | | | having been a previously existing condition. |
| Its development is largely measured by the | | | | Wet AMD is not, however, related to the |
| accumulation of drusen, deposits that are possibly | | | | accumulation of drusen. Neovascular conditions are |
| unprocessed protein or waste products. Drusen | | | | ones in which there is an abnormal growth of |
| tends to be yellow in color. The accumulation can | | | | blood vessels where they were not previously, or |
| begin in middle age, but often the accumulation is | | | | vessels of a different type than had been |
| found by an ophthalmologist during a routine visit | | | | growing. In the case of the wet form, it means |
| rather than due to vision loss. The drusen builds | | | | the growth of new blood vessels in the choroid, a |
| up between the choroid and retina. | | | | layer in the eye that provides blood and nutrients |
| The symptoms may not manifest until a | | | | to the retina. The new vessels in the choroid tend |
| significant amount of drusen has built up. The initial | | | | to rather unstable and are prone to leaking blood |
| symptom is typically just blurriness of vision. As | | | | or fluids. These leakages result in scarring and |
| the condition progresses toward advance | | | | damage to the macula, which causes the |
| non-neovascular AMD, the symptoms can | | | | associated loss of central vision. . |
| become severe. Scotomas, dark areas where | | | | There are two major forms of wet AMD. Occult |
| vision has been impaired that is surrounded by | | | | is marked by less specific vessel growth. It tends |
| relatively intact vision, often develop as part of | | | | to leave the sufferer with a less severe degree |
| dry macular degeneration. The ability to recognize | | | | of loss of vision. Classic is marked by very clear |
| contrast can be lessened or lost almost entirely. In | | | | and observable vessel growth and typically results |
| the late stages of the dry form of the condition, | | | | in greater loss of vision. |
| the ability to recognize detailed visual images | | | | As with dry macular degeneration, the loss is |
| becomes virtually impossible. | | | | solely to central vision. Neither type of ARMD has |
| The end result is typically that the only vision | | | | been linked to a total loss of vision as the only |
| remaining is peripheral vision. This does not | | | | causal factor. |
| preclude living a relatively normal existence, but it | | | | |