Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is an eye disease that occurs when there’s damage to the central part of the retina, called the macula (responsible for helping you see details of objects in front of you clearly).

?Also called age-related macular degeneration (AMD), over time the condition leads to vision loss, especially in the central field of vision. It is primarily an age-related condition and there are two types: dry (more common) and wet (less common).

?Other symptoms of AMD include being unable to see in low light, blurred vision, issues in seeing colors, having blank or dark spots in your vision, and seeing straight lines as wavy.

Commonly Asked Questions

What are the early signs of macular degeneration?

In the early stages of disease you may have no symptoms, which is why regular eye exams are crucial. If you notice changes to your vision, see a physician immediately.

Dry macular degeneration has three stages: early (when the macula is changing, but vision is not affected), intermediate (characterized by blurry vision), and late or advanced (when central vision is completely lost). Wet macular degeneration is always considered advanced.

There is no cure for AMD, but treatments can slow down the disease. Injected medications can slow the growth of abnormal blood vessels. And eating more antioxidants and omega-3s in addition to taking certain supplements is associated with better eye health and may help AMD from progressing.

People with AMD may have blurry vision, distorted central vision, a blind spot or see colors differently. But depending on how severe the disease is, not everyone with AMD will have noticeable symptoms.

Meet Our Experts In Macular Degeneration
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Edmund-Tsui-bio

Edmund Tsui, MD

Edmund Tsui, MD, is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

He earned his medical degree from Dartmouth. He completed an ophthalmology residency at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where he was chief resident, followed by a fellowship in uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology at the University of California in San Francisco.

Dr. Tsui is committed to advancing the field of ophthalmology. His research focuses on utilizing state-of-the-art ophthalmic imaging technology to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of uveitis. He is a co-investigator in several multicenter clinical trials investigating therapeutics for uveitis. He is the author of over 80 peer-reviewed publications and has given talks at national and international conferences.

Along with his clinical and research responsibilities, Tsui teaches medical students and residents. He is on the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology's professional development and education committee, as well as the advocacy and outreach committee, which seeks to increase funding and awareness of vision research. He also serves on the editorial board of Ophthalmology?and?the executive committee of the American Uveitis Society.

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Resources
  1. Understanding Macular Degeneration. American Academy of Opthalmology. October 1, 2024.
  2. Macular Degeneration. Cleveland Clinic.

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