Why Early Detection of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Can Save Your Vision
Imagine how difficult it would be to read, drive, shave, or cook if you had a blank or blurry spot in the middle of your vision. Macular degeneration, a condition that damages central vision, doesn't cause any obvious symptoms at first. Although you might not notice any difference in your vision, the condition could still damage your eyesight. Regular eye exams offer a simple way to detect early signs of macular degeneration and protect your vision.
What Is Macular Degeneration?
The macula in the center part of the retina is responsible for good central and color vision. The retina captures light rays and turns them into nerve signals that travel to the brain. AMD damages cells in the macula, causing vision issues.
Age-related macular degeneration, the most common form of the disease, affects 200 million people throughout the world, according to Cureus.
Two forms of AMD can damage central vision:
- Dry AMD. Dry AMD, the most common type, occurs when the macula gets thinner. Yellow deposits, known as drusen, also form under the retina. Although some drusen are normal as you age, a large amount of drusen may mean you have dry AMD.
- Wet AMD. Wet AMD happens when abnormal blood vessels form in the retina and leak blood and fluid. Scarring can damage your vision if you have wet AMD.
Age is the most important risk factor in AMD, but there are other factors that could increase the likelihood that you'll develop the condition. According to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Medicine in 2025, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease also increase your risk.
The Importance of Early Detection
Although AMD may cause blurry central vision or vision loss in the later stages, your vision may seem perfectly fine in the early stages. Unfortunately, by the time changes happen, vision loss may be irreversible. Thanks to early detection, treatment of your condition can start immediately, reducing your risk for vision loss. Treatment can slow or prevent the changes that cause vision loss.
During your annual eye exam, your ophthalmologist looks for drusen, abnormal blood vessels, and other signs of AMD. Your eye doctor may dilate your eyes to make it easier to see the retina and macula.
If you are diagnosed with wet AMD, your ophthalmologist might recommend special eye injections that slow or stop abnormal blood vessel growth and stop leakage. The treatment can stabilize vision and may even help improve it. Laser surgery may also be used to treat leaky blood vessels.
Your ophthalmologist may recommend taking AREDS2 supplements if you have dry AMD. These supplements contain vitamins and minerals that can slow the progression of intermediate to late AMD.
Some people with dry AMD may benefit from light therapy. Exposing the eye to multiple light wavelengths may decrease inflammation and improve cell function.
Early detection also gives you the chance to make lifestyle improvements that could protect your eyesight. Whether you already have AMD or want to reduce your risk of developing the condition, these lifestyle changes can be helpful:
- Improve Your Diet. Avoid fatty, fried, and sugary foods and focus on healthier options instead. A diet that includes lean meat, fish, fruit, leafy vegetables, whole grains, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin-rich foods may improve overall and eye health.
- Stop Smoking. Smoking increases your risk for AMD and cataracts, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
- Exercise More. Any type of regular exercise, whether it's dancing, walking your dog, or taking classes at your local fitness facility, offers an excellent way to reduce your risk of AMD. A research study conducted on mice revealed that exercise could prevent the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina. The study appeared in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science in 2020.
- Keep Blood Pressure Under Control. Don't ignore high blood pressure. Lowering your blood pressure offers a simple way to reduce your AMD risk.
Protect your vision with early detection! Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the ophthalmologist.
Sources:
PMC: Cureus: Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment, 9/26/2022
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9595233/
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Understanding Macular Degeneration, 11/25/2025
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amd-macular-degeneration
Macular Degeneration Foundation: Treatments for Macular Degeneration
https://www.brightfocus.org/resource/treatments-for-macular-degeneration-2/
Lippincott: Medicine: Risk Factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, 2/21/2025
U.S. Food & Drug Administration: How Smoking Can Contribute to Vision Loss and Blindness
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Voluntary Exercise Suppresses Choroidal Neovascularization in Mice, 5/2020
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2766252
National Eye Institute: Age-Related Macular Degeneration