Dry Macular Degeneration: An In-Depth Guide
Macular degeneration is an eye disorder that affects around 19.8 million people living in the US alone, aged 40 years or older, according to the CDC.
It is a disorder that commonly affects people near their 50s and results in loss of their central vision.
Though the peripheral vision remains, the central vision is impacted.
Read on to know more about how it affects a person.
What is Dry Macular Degeneration?
Dry age-related macular degeneration is common in people over the age of 50.
The part of the retina that gives the eye clear vision in a straight line or the direct line of sight is called the macula.
When the inner layers of the macula break down, it leads to reduced or blurred vision.
Starting from one eye, it then develops into the other eye. It might also develop in both eyes at the same time.
As time passes, it worsens your vision and affects your daily activities, such as reading, driving, and even recognizing people’s faces.
However, people having dry macular degeneration don’t lose all their sight. Generally, while peripheral vision is retained, central vision is lost due to it.
Some people have only mild central vision loss. In others, though, it can be more severe.
Early detection and caring for yourself may help delay vision loss due to this disorder.
Stages of dry macular degeneration
The symptoms of age-related macular degeneration progress in three stages. Early, intermediate, and late are the three stages.
It is a progressive disease, meaning the symptoms will usually worsen as time passes.
| Early Dry AMD | Early dry AMD will not lead to any apparent symptoms |
|---|---|
| Intermediate Stage of AMD | In the intermediate stage, some people will have no symptoms. At the same time, others will notice mild blurriness in central vision or have trouble seeing in low light. |
| Late Dry AMD | In late AMD, straight lines begin looking wavy or crooked. There is also a blurry area in the center of the vision, which may get bigger. You may also start seeing blank spots. The colors may also seem less bright, and there may be trouble while focusing on low lighting. |
Symptoms of Dry Macular Degeneration
This disorder may be hard to detect as it develops gradually and without pain.
It may lead to:
- Reduced central vision in either one or both eyes
- Visual distortions, for example, a straight line, look bent
- Difficulty in adapting to low-level lights, such as when you enter a dimly lit theater or a restaurant
- The need for a bright source of light when reading or when you do a close-up work
- Difficulty in recognizing faces
- A well-defined blurry or blind spot in your vision field
- Blurred printed words
Also note that it will not affect your side vision, so it won’t result in total blindness.
Causes
Many factors lead to Age-related Macular Degeneration or AMD, such as those given below:
Genes
Scientists have identified as many as 20 genes that may be behind more than half of the AMD cases, according to WebMD.
It explains why people who have relatives with AMD have more chances of developing it.
However, there are other factors as well that may together lead to it.
Age
It is the first factor that puts you at risk for AMD.
About 2% of people in their 50s have Dry macular degeneration, while almost a third of people over 75 have it, according to WebMD.
Smoking
The risk of Dry age-related macular degeneration for those who smoke is up to four times higher than for people who have never smoked.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure restricts the amount of oxygen reaching the eye and increases the disorder’s risk.
Medications
Some medications, such as Aspirin and specific drugs of the heart like Nitroglycerin, may also increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration. It would be best if you talked more about it with your doctor.
Diagnosis
To diagnose dry macular degeneration, the doctor will examine the back of your eye by dilating them and then using a dedicated instrument.
The ophthalmologist is looking for a mottled appearance caused by yellow deposits under the retina.
Drusen is the term given to these yellow deposits. They are generally a symptom of dry age-related macular degeneration. Drusen can be of many types and are made of lipids and proteins.
Treatments
As of now, you cannot reverse dry macular degeneration, according to Mayoclinic.
You have more chances of success with your treatment if it is diagnosed early.
You can also follow some steps to slow its progression, such as taking supplements of vitamins, having healthy eating habits, and avoiding smoking, according to Mayoclinic.
Vitamin supplements
Suppose you are in the intermediate or advanced stage of having Dry macular degeneration.
In that case, you can take a high-dose formulation of antioxidant minerals and vitamins to help reduce the risk of vision loss.
Age-Related Eye Diseases Study 2 (AREDS2) has shown that you should use a formulation including the ingredients given below:
- 2 mg of cupric oxide
- 80 mg of zinc oxide
- 2 mg of zeaxanthin
- 10 mg of lutein
- 400 IU of Vitamin E
- 500 mg of Vitamin C
These supplements do not usually benefit people with early-stage dry macular degeneration.
You should consult your doctor before you start taking it.
Low vision rehabilitation
It does not affect your side vision and does not cause total blindness.
Hence, you can also get help from a low-vision rehabilitation specialist or an occupational therapist who will help you adapt to your changing vision.
Surgery to implant a telescopic lens
It is for some people in their advanced stage of dry macular degeneration in both eyes.
They can get surgery to implant a telescopic lens in one eye to improve vision.
It looks like a tiny plastic tube with a lens to magnify the field of vision. It will improve both distance and close-up vision and has a narrow field of vision.
Also Read: If you are looking for in-depth treatment options go through The Road to Recovery: A Guide to Macular Degeneration Treatment.
Wet Vs. Dry Macular Degeneration
Here is a differences table between wet and dry macular degeneration:
The basic difference between dry macular and wet macular degeneration lies in the cause and how it manifests in people.
While dry macular degeneration is less severe, wet macular degeneration is more severe as it may result in total vision loss.
| Dry macular degeneration | Wet macular degeneration |
| Accounts for about 90% of the AMD cases | Accounts for 10% of the cases |
| Can become ‘wet’ | Accounts for 90% of the central visual acuity loss |
| Drusen form on the macula | Neovascularization of the macula |
| No angiogenesis | VEGF drives angiogenesis |
| No current treatment | Treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents |
Takeaway
There are, thus, two types of age-related macular degeneration disorders.
In the dry AMD type, the cause of the disorder may be genes, age, or an unhealthy lifestyle.
Its main symptoms include seeing a straight line, curvy or wavy, and a loss in central vision while the peripheral vision remains intact.
There are many ways you can slow down the progress of this disorder.
Some of these ways include- living a healthy lifestyle, going to an eye doctor when required, and even getting surgery.
Frequently asked questions
Which is worse, dry or wet macular degeneration?
Wet macular degeneration is worse than dry macular degeneration. As dry AMD progresses slowly over the years, wet AMD happens swiftly and can result in irreversible vision loss in people.
What does a person with dry macular degeneration see?
A person with dry AMD sees straight lines that are wavy or curvy in the last stage of the disorder. In the earlier stages, there may be no symptoms indicating its presence.
How long before you go blind with dry macular degeneration?
The general timeline of the progression of this disorder spans many years, sometimes even ten years. However, if it is discovered and treated on time, you can prevent significant vision loss and restore vision for many years.
What is the main cause of dry macular degeneration?
The leading cause of dry macular degeneration is genetics. Researchers have identified over 20 genes that may play a part in developing dry macular degeneration.
How do you slow down dry macular degeneration?
You can slow down dry macular degeneration by making healthy lifestyle changes. These include healthy eating, not smoking, avoiding drinking, and managing other medical conditions you may have.
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