Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Overview

Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease that can blur central vision. It happens when aging causes damage to the macula, the part of the eye that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision. The macula is part of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss for older adults in the United States. It is a progressive disease, meaning symptoms usually get worse over time. It does not cause complete blindness, but losing central vision can make it harder to see faces, read, drive, or do close-up work like cooking or fixing things around the house.

There are two types of age-related macular degeneration: dry and wet.

Most people with this disease have the dry version.  The dry version happens in 3 stages: early, intermediate, and late. It usually progresses slowly over several years.

The wet version is a less common type that usually causes faster vision loss. Any stage of dry age-related macular degeneration can turn into the wet version — but the wet version is always late stage. It happens when abnormal blood vessels grow in the back of the eye and damage the macula.

If you have early age-related macular degeneration, you may not notice vision loss for a long time.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of age-related macular degeneration depend on stage.

Symptoms of early dry age-related macular degeneration may include:

• No symptoms, especially if it only affects one eye
• Some potential blurriness that might improve with brighter light

Symptoms of intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration may include:

• No symptoms
• Some blurriness in central vision
• Trouble seeing in low lighting

Symptoms of late dry or wet age-related macular degeneration may include:

• Straight lines looking wavy or crooked
• A blurry area developing near the center of your vision
• Blurry areas getting bigger over time, or blank spots may appear
• Colors may seem less bright than before
• More trouble seeing in low lighting
• Difficulty seeing faces or words in a book

Important warning sign: Straight lines looking wavy is a warning sign for wet age-related macular degeneration. If you notice this symptom, see your eye doctor right away.

Causes and Risk Factors

Your risk for age-related macular degeneration increases as you get older. People aged 55 and older are more likely to have this disease. The chances get even higher as you get older.

You also have a higher chance of developing age-related macular degeneration if you:

• Have a family history of the disease
• Are White or Caucasian
• Smoke
• Are overweight

Prevention Guidance

You may be able to lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration by making these healthy choices:

• Quit smoking, or don’t start.
• Get regular physical activity.
• Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Eat healthy foods, including leafy green vegetables and fish.
• Control your weight.

If you are at risk for age-related macular degeneration because of your age, family history, or other factors, getting regular eye exams is important.

Diagnosis

Eye doctors can check for age-related macular degeneration as part of a comprehensive eye exam, which is simple and painless.

Your doctor may also give you a grid to look at every day. People with normal vision will see straight black lines with a dot in the center. Those with later stages of age-related macular degeneration may see wavy or blurry lines and some dark spots in the middle.

Treatment and Management

Age-related macular degeneration cannot be cured, but it can be treated to keep it from getting worse. In some cases, people’s vision can get better. Catching age-related macular degeneration early is important to protect your eyesight.

Treatment for age-related macular degeneration depends on the stage and type.

Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration

There is currently no treatment for the early stage of disease. Eating healthy, getting regular exercise, and quitting smoking can help.

Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration

If you have intermediate stage disease in one or both eyes, special dietary supplements (vitamins and minerals) may stop it from turning into late age-related macular degeneration.

Late Age-Related Macular Degeneration

There are eye injections that may be able to stop further vision loss:

• Anti-angiogenic drugs for wet age-related macular degeneration
• Complement inhibitors for a late form of dry age-related macular degeneration called geographic atrophy

Living With Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Not everyone with age-related macular degeneration develops late age-related macular degeneration or gets it in both eyes. But if you do, living with vision loss from age-related macular degeneration can be difficult. Having low vision means that even with glasses or contact lenses, vision loss makes it hard to do everyday tasks.

There are things that can help — like low vision devices and vision rehabilitation services that can help you learn the skills you need to stay independent and active.

Low vision devices and services can help you make the most of your remaining sight. This can include strategies like learning how to use a magnifying device for reading and setting up your home so you can move around easily. New technologies are also increasingly able to assist people with low vision.

Use these questions to keep track of how age-related macular degeneration is affecting your life:

• Have you noticed any changes in your vision since your last eye exam?
• Do you have trouble seeing things straight ahead?
• Does vision loss get in the way of activities you enjoy or do every day, like reading or driving?
• Have you been able to adapt your normal activities as your vision changed?

Find Clinical Trials

Clinical trials uncover better ways to prevent, diagnose, treat, and understand diseases and conditions. To ensure results apply to everyone, volunteers of all ages, sexes, and backgrounds, including both healthy individuals and those with specific medical conditions, are needed. Find clinical trials on age-related macular degeneration.

Find Treatment

Talk to your eye doctor about how you can manage your symptoms and protect your vision. Ask your eye doctor about low vision devices and rehab services that might be right for you.

Community Support

To learn more about age-related macular degeneration, visit:

• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• The American Optometric Association
• American Society of Retina Specialists

Note: This resource list is for informational purposes only. It is not comprehensive, and an organization’s inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by NIH. 

Research Information

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. NIH invests most of its budget in medical research seeking to enhance life and to reduce illness and disability. NIH-funded research has led to breakthroughs and new treatments helping people live longer, healthier lives, and building the research foundation that drives discovery.  

NIH-funded researchers are studying what causes age-related macular degeneration and how to treat it better. One NIH research team found a way to treat late dry age-related macular degeneration in animals using stem cells. Researchers are now testing whether this treatment is safe for people. This research could lead to a treatment for late dry age-related macular degeneration in the future.

Find NIH-funded research projects using NIH RePORTER, a searchable database of current and past research projects supported by NIH and other federal agencies.