Macular degeneration usually generates a gradual and painless loss of vision. The signs and symptoms of AMD may depend upon what type of the disease a person may have – Dry AMD or Wet AMD. Retinal examinations such as Ophthalmoscopy, Vision testing, Fundus photography, Amsler grid test and Fluorescein angiography may also detect early signs of macular Degeneration before symptoms occur.
The general symptoms common to both dry and wet of Macular Degeneration include loss of central vision, difficulty reading or performing tasks that involve detail and close work, and blurred or distorted vision such as wavy or bent appearances of straight lines.
Some of the symptoms associated with dry Macular Degeneration may include the increasing need for brighter lighting when reading or performing tasks that involve detail, difficulty adjusting to low levels of lighting, printed or written words starting to appear increasingly blurry, colors appear less bright, difficulty recognizing faces and people, gradual increase in the haziness of overall vision, blurred or blind spot in the center of the visual field, with a considerable drop in the central vision acuity and a need to scan eyes all around an object to get a complete image.
The symptoms associated with wet macular degeneration may include visual distortions such as straight lines appearing wavy or crooked, or objects appearing smaller or farther away than they are, decrease in or loss of central vision and dark spots in the center of vision. Peripheral vision may appear normal. Vision loss may be rapid and severe in Wet Macular Degeneration after symptoms have appeared, and may also result in legal blindness.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Dry Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
There are two types of Macular Degeneration or AMD. The first and more common type is the Dry Macular Degeneration. 85% to 90% of the cases of AMD or Age-related macular degeneration are of the dry or atrophic type. It is also a fact that...
-
Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The progressive deterioration of the Macula or the central portion of the retina causes macular degeneration. The macula is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye (ability to see objects directly in front) and for processing sharp, clear images. Macular degeneration or damage to...
-
Wet Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Wet Macular Degeneration, also known as the exudative type, is the more severe of the two types of AMD or Age-related Macular Degeneration, which cause 90% of blindness from the disease but only accounts for 15% of AMD cases. Wet macular degeneration develops when new...
-
Age Related Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Age-related Macular Degeneration or AMD is a common eye disease that causes progressive damage to the central part of the retina, also known as the Macula. AMD is the leading cause of visual impairment in the United States, and blindness in senior citizens of America,...
-
Macular Degeneration Medications
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Though there is no permanent cure for Macular Degeneration, some medications may actually assist in halting or slowing down the progress of the disease and loss of vision. While some of these medications are totally experimental, others have been found to be effective and have...
-
Macular Degeneration Research
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Since Macular Degeneration or AMD is an incurable disease, there have been numerous experiments and tests conducted by researchers to halt or slow down the rate of its progression and vision loss caused by the disease. While most of the results have been disappointing, some...
-
Macular Degeneration Treatments
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
There is no treatment that can cure or reverse the course of Dry Macular Degeneration. Even the available treatments for the Wet type at present are only meant to slow down the progress of the disease and avoid further loss of vision. The success of...
-
Vision Care
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Over one million Americans over the age of 40 face the threat of blindness or are currently blind. Another 2.4 million are visually impaired. These numbers are expected to double in the next 30 years. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness....
-
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Systolic blood pressure reading greater or equal to 140 or a diastolic blood pressure reading greater or equal to 90 indicates high blood pressure. Research indicates high blood pressure cannot be detected, as it usually does not have any symptoms. Even if some do exist,...
-
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
When the thyroid gland is unable to produce a satisfactory level of thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism may develop. The hormones produced by the endocrine or thyroid gland are responsible for the regulation of a person’s metabolism; hence, an injury to this gland or an abnormality in...