What is Age-related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that gradually damages the macula, a tiny but crucial area in the centre of your retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. Think of it as the part of your eye that lets you read text messages, recognise faces across a room, or thread a needle. When AMD develops, these everyday activities become increasingly challenging because your central vision starts deteriorating while peripheral sight typically remains intact.

The condition primarily affects people over 60, though risk factors can appear earlier. Its progressive nature makes AMD concerning. Many patients don’t notice symptoms initially since the deterioration happens slowly, often affecting one eye before the other. By the time significant vision changes occur, permanent damage may have already developed in the photoreceptor cells that capture visual information.

There are two distinct forms of this condition. The dry form progresses gradually over the years. The other is the wet form, which is less common and involves abnormal blood vessel growth beneath the retina and progresses much faster. Both conditions need different treatment methods.

Early detection through regular eye examinations makes a significant difference in preserving functional vision. A qualified retina specialist in Delhi/NCR can identify early warning signs before noticeable symptoms appear, allowing for timely intervention. Modern Age-related Macular Degeneration treatment in Delhi/NCR includes anti-VEGF injections for wet AMD and nutritional supplementation with healthy lifestyle habits. Full recovery is not possible; only the right treatment approach can stabilise or slow any progression.

What causes this?

Age-related Macular Degeneration is a chronic condition which is caused by an underlying metabolic disorder. 

Am I at risk?

Age-related Macular Degeneration usually affects those who age over 50 years, smoke, have high blood pressure, and consume a diet that is rich in saturated fat.

How can I prevent Age-related Macular Degeneration?

While there is no cure for Age-related Macular Degeneration, you can prevent it by indulging in healthy habits like quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, healthy blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, etc. 

When do I know I am facing an Age-related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related Macular Degeneration usually causes blurry or fuzzy vision, difficulty in recognition, the appearance of wavy lines, a dark spot at the centre of vision, etc.

Diagnosis and treatment

Age-related Macular Degeneration is diagnosed by tests like:

• Amsler grid: This test requires you to point out the parts on the Amsler grid that seem distorted to you. The grid is designed to have straight lines with a large dot in the centre.
• Dilated eye exam: You are given eye drops to dilate, or widen, your pupils to get a closer look inside your eyes.
• Fluorescein angiography: You are injected with a yellow dye called fluorescein into a vein in your arm. A special camera tracks the dye as it travels through your eye’s blood vessels. The images can tell if there’s any leakage under your macula.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT): You are simply required to look into a lens while a machine takes images of the back of your eye, including your retina and macula. 
• Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA): This diagnostic tool uses laser light reflection and the OCT scanning device to generate 3D images of blood flow through your eye.

Treatment for Age-related Macular Degeneration can be:

Although Age-related Macular Degeneration can’t be cured, it can be treated in ways like:

• Intravitreal Injections: Anti-VEGF drugs are injected into the eye to reduce the swelling and capillary growth.
• Photodynamic therapy: A combination of light energy and a photosensitizer drug is used to treat AMD under the exposure of a certain light.
• Laser therapy: A laser is burned through your retina which helps close the tears inside it.

Types of Age-related Macular Degeneration

• Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration: This type of Age-related Macular Degeneration is when the macula gets thinner with age and occurs more commonly than wet AMD and progresses slowly over time. Even though there is no treatment for this, there are ways to make the most of your remaining vision.
• Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration: This type of AMD occurs when there’s a growth in abnormal blood vessels that damage the macula and is considered to be the more advanced stage. This can lead to faster vision loss but can be treated effectively.

Why visit AKIO for Age-related Macular Degeneration?

AKIO Institute of Ophthalmology provides comprehensive, specialised AMD care by experienced retina doctors in Delhi/NCR, together with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and established treatment protocols for patients. Our eye care specialists offer the full range of treatment options, including anti-VEGF injection to reduce the abnormal growth of blood vessels, photodynamic therapy to treat a specific type of wet AMD in select cases, and individualised monitoring programs to carefully monitor the disease process. At AKIO, we have the most combined experience, the best modern surgical facilities, and the comfort of knowing that you will receive individualised treatment options that are intended to preserve functional vision and quality vision and quality of life while living with AMD.