The Disease
A group of eye disorders affecting the central region of the retina (thus affecting the central field of vision) is referred to collectively as “macular degeneration”. Since people over 65 years of age serve as the prime target zone for this disease, it is also labeled as the “Age Related Macular Degeneration” or “AMD”/ “ARMD”. It happens to be the single biggest factor behind legal blindness in developed nations of the world. Since macula sustains irreversible damage at the hands of this disease, it leads to the loss of the sharp, fine-detail, straight-ahead vision, affecting its victims’ ability to perform activities like reading, writing, driving, recognizing faces and so forth.
This write-up is a compilation of 40 interesting facts about AMD, segregated into a host of relevant sections.
Global AMD Prevalence
AMD Prevalence In the United States of America
AMD Associated Health Costs Worldwide
AMD Associated Health Costs in the U.S.
Types of Age-related Macular Degeneration
Stages of Age Related Macular Degeneration
The progression of AMD can be divided into three different stages:
AMD Symptoms
i) Dry AMD Symptoms
Dry AMD symptoms might not surface for up to 10 years after the disease’s onset; sometimes, even longer if only one eye is affected when dry AMD symptoms appear eventually, they may include:
ii) Wet AMD Symptoms
According to National Eye Institute:
Wet AMD can display all of the symptoms listed above for dry AMD as well as the following:
Macular Degeneration Risk Factors
Major macular degeneration risk factors include:
Treatment and Prevention
There is no known cure for AMD as yet, but there are certain treatments that can help slow down the advancement of the disease. Some effective options include: