What Is Wet AMD?

We've got the answer to the most frequently asked question about wet AMD. Frank Siringo, M.D., O.D., chief of vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at Omni Eye Specialists in Denver, explains wet macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss, and how it affects the eye.

Wet AMD is the vision-threatening form of age-related macular degeneration. It's the most common reason why people in the United States over age 55 can lose vision. Wet AMD is characterized by new blood-vessel growth underneath the retina, specifically in the macula of the very central part of the retina. New blood vessels grow under there, and they can bleed or leak fluid. That causes blurring or distortion of the vision, and if untreated, it can lead to a central blind spot in the vision.