What is age related macular degeneration (AMD)?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition that affects a tiny part of the retina at the back of your eye, called the macula. AMD causes problems with your central, detailed vision, but does not lead to total loss of sight and is not painful.
AMD affects the vision you use when you’re looking straight at something, for example when you’re reading, looking at photos or watching television. Your central vision can become distorted or blurry and over time, a dark or missing area may appear in the centre of your vision.
At the moment, the exact cause for AMD is unknown, but some things are thought to increase your chances of developing AMD, including your age, lifestyle, your genes, sunlight and what you eat.
Everyone can have slightly different symptoms, but usually the first thing you’ll notice is that it’s harder to see detail, such as small print. You may find that your vision has a small blurred area in the centre. Straight lines may look distorted or wavy, or like there’s a little bump in them. You may also find that you’re more sensitive to bright light.
Please also see What are the different types of age related macular degeneration (AMD)?
For further information on the treatment of AMD, see Is there any treatment for age related macular degeneration (AMD)?
You can get further advice and support from the Macular Society by calling 0300 3030 1111 or visiting macularsociety.org.
