AMD & Low Vision Month

Posted on February 3, 2022

February is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month. According to estimates, more than 2.2 million Americans ages 50 and over have AMD.

AMD is an eye disease that affects central vision and may occur in one or both eyes. Symptoms usually appear gradually over time.

Risk factors for AMD include:

Family history of AMD
Aging – those over 60 years old
Race – Caucasians have a higher rate of AMD
Sex – females have a higher rate of AMD
Light colored eyes
Smoking
Heart disease
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High sun exposure
Poor diet – with low intake of anti-oxidants

Stages of AMD
AMD can be referred to as wet or dry. Dry AMD has three stages in which symptoms progressively get worse over time. The three stages are:

Early AMD – No symptoms.
Intermediate AMD – Some individuals will have no symptoms and others will have mild blurriness.
Late AMD – Straight lines will appear crooked or wavy and you may notice a blurry area near the center of your vision that will expand over time.

Wet AMD will always be considered late stage AMD.

You can lower your risk of AMD by making these healthy lifestyle choices:

Quit smoking
Exercise regularly
Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Eat a healthy diet – including leafy greens and fish
Wear good UV protection over your eyes when out in the sun.

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