Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Support Groups
AMD Alliance International -- (877) AMD-7171 -- www.amdalliance.org.
Expectations (prognosis)
Most people with mild dry macular degeneration will not have disabling central vision loss. However, there is no way to predict who will progress to a more severe form of the disease.
The wet form of macular degeneration often leads to significant vision loss.
Although macular degeneration can cause people to lose the ability to read, drive a car, and recognize faces at a distance, it never causes complete blindness. This disorder results in the loss of central vision only -- macular degeneration cannot cause side (peripheral) vision loss.
Nearly everyone with macular degeneration can get around, eat, perform personal hygiene, and do other routine activities without too much difficulty.
Complications
Loss of central vision may interfere with many daily activities, such as reading, working on the computer, or driving. You may need extra light or magnification to perform many of your normal activities.
Calling your health care provider
If you have AMD, your health care provider may recommend that you check your vision every day on an Amsler grid. Call your provider immediately if the lines appear wavy, or you notice any other changes in your vision.
Review Date: 08/31/2010
Reviewed By: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La
Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
