A Guide for Patients

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

This page explains what age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is, how to monitor
your vision at home, and what treatment options are available.

Dry AMD is a mild disease in most patients.
Use an Amsler grid weekly to check for changes.
AREDS-2 supplements may help slow AMD progression in some people.
If you have dry AMD and develop sudden distortion or blurring, see an optician or ophthalmologist urgently.

What is AMD?

AMD is a disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina that helps you see detail. In dry AMD, extracellular material (drusen) build up in and distort the retina. In advanced cases retinal scarring can occur. In around 1 in 10 patients with dry AMD, abnormal blood vessels can grow into the retina and leak fluid. This is called “wet AMD” and requires urgent treatment.

AMD occurs in 1 in 20 people over the age of 65. Fortunately, dry AMD is usually a mild disease that does not cause any significant problems with vision.

AMD does not cause complete blindness, but in some cases central vision can become blurred or distorted; this can make reading, driving, and recognising faces more difficult.

There are two main types:

Dry AMD – more common, progresses slowly.
Wet AMD – less common, but develops quickly. Requires urgent treatment with eye injections.

Dry AMD – Monitoring and Preventative steps

If you have been diagnosed with dry AMD, the information in this section provides
useful advice regarding monitoring your vision and reducing your chance of
progressing to wet AMD.

Checking Your Vision at Home – The Amsler Grid

An Amsler grid is a simple tool to help monitor changes in your vision and should be
used weekly if you have AMD.

You may want to stick a copy inside your bathroom cupboard to remind you to check regularly.

How to use it:
1. Wear your reading glasses if you use them.
2. Position the grid at normal reading distance in good light.
3. Cover one eye and look directly at the central dot.
4. Check if the lines look wavy, blurred, distorted, or if any areas are missing.
5. Repeat with the other eye.

If you notice new distortion, blurring, or missing patches, contact your optician or hospital eye clinic immediately.

Click here to download and print a free Amsler grid.

Nutrition and the AREDS-2 Trial

Large research studies in the USA, called the AREDS and AREDS-2 trials, showed that a specific combination of vitamins and minerals may help slow the progression of moderate to advanced dry AMD in some people.

The AREDS-2 formula includes:

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Zinc
Copper
Lutein
Zeaxanthin

Not everyone with AMD will benefit from these supplements, and they are not a cure.

Check with your eye specialist before starting them to ensure you will benefit from them, especially if you take other medicines.

AREDS-2 Formula Supplements Available in the UK

These can be bought from high-street pharmacies or online, using the links above.

Looking After Your Eyes

Stop smoking – the single most important step you can take.
Eat a healthy diet – plenty of leafy greens (spinach, kale), colourful fruit, and oily fish (salmon, mackerel).
Exercise regularly and keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control.
Protect your eyes from sunlight with UV-blocking sunglasses.

Wet AMD

Around 1 in 10 patients with dry AMD progress to wet AMD. The term “wet” refers to fluid that develops within the retina, distorting the retina and damaging the cells that detect light.

Wet AMD is usually a more severe form of the disease, which requires treatment with regular eye injections to prevent further vision loss. These injections are administered monthly for the first 3-4 months and then reduced in frequency. Many patients require injections every 2-3 months to maintain control of the disease.

If you have dry AMD and develop sudden distortion or blurring in one eye, you may be developing wet AMD. You should seek urgent attention from an eye specialist. UK (NICE) guidelines recommend that treatment should be initiated within 2 weeks of diagnosis.

Support and Further Help

Macular Society https://www.macularsociety.org/
Macular Society Helpline: 0300 3030 111
RNIB www.rnib.org.uk
RNIB Helpline: 0303 123 9999

Both organisations can provide support, advice, and connect you with local groups.

Driving and Glaucoma

Daily activities

Support Services and charities

MR ALEX BANEKE - OPHTHALMIC SURGEON - CATARACT & GLAUCOMA