What is Dry Age-Relates Macular Degeneration (or Dry AMD)?

The more common type of Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is Dry AMD, which affects 90% of people who have this condition. As opposed to wet AMD, this type is less severe and can be easier prevented once detected.

Dry AMD, sometimes referred to as Atrophic AMD, is an eye disorder that occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, causing the central vision to blur gradually. As it worsens, a patient will see a blurred spot in the center of the vision.

In the dry form, there is a breakdown or thinning of the layer of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) macula. These cells have the ability to render support to the light sensitive photoreceptor cells that are vital to having a good vision while photoreceptor cells are also responsible for identifying images and sending them to the brain to be identified.

What are drusen?

During dry AMD, drusen starts to appear while the macula starts get thin. Drusen are dots of yellow crystalline deposits that develop within the macula, often found in people over the age of 60. Dr. Kim Watters at the Optix Eye Care, reliable Weaverville eye doctor, will be glad to tell you more about this.

What could have caused my dry AMD?

There are certain factors that have caused the occurrence of this condition. Some risk factors that are controllable are smoking, diet, high blood pressure and cholesterol while the risk factors that are beyond your control are age, gender, race, eye color, AMD in one eye, and genetics. To know your risk schedule an appointment in our Weaverville, NC office and give your eye the optical checkup it deserves.

How do you avoid it? Can it still be cured?

Fortunately, there are practices that adapt the latest technology in eye care. But as always, early detection cuts down the risk of a complete vision loss. Once you have already felt something strange in your vision, be sure to have it checked.