Macular Degeneration

Two Types of Macular Degeneration

There are two basic types of Macular Degeneration (AMD), Dry and Wet. Dry AMD is the least debilitating of the two types. It is slow to develop and usually results in a mild to moderate decrease in central vision. Dry AMD is treated with a multivitamin formulation to prevent progression to Wet AMD. Specialized diagnostic testing, including Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Digital Fluorescein Angiography, is performed on a regular basis to monitor the stability of the disease.

Wet AMD generally presents as a sudden distortion or loss of central vision. The condition occurs as a result of new blood vessels forming beneath the retina. These vessels leak and bleed easily and ultimately result in scar formation in the central retina and subsequent poor vision. Wet AMD requires immediate treatment using a retinal laser or drug injection to destroy the new blood vessels. Visual prognosis with Wet AMD tends to be less than with Dry AMD, making early diagnosis and treatment even more critical.