What does seeing with macular degeneration look like?

Individuals with vision loss from age-related macular degeneration look fine. Their eyes appear to be just like they always were and their peripheral (side) vision is preserved, so they can walk around with little or no difficulty and may even spot a small dark button dropped on a light rug.

What can be mistaken for macular degeneration?

AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT. Autosomal dominant retinal dystrophies that may masquerade as AMD include cone dystrophy, adult vitelliform dystrophy, pattern dystrophy, North Carolina macular dystrophy, Doyne honeycomb dystrophy and Sorsby macular dystrophy.

Can an eye doctor detect macular degeneration?

During an eye examination, your eye doctor may use an Amsler grid to test for defects in the center of your vision. Macular degeneration may cause some of the straight lines in the grid to look faded, broken or distorted. Fluorescein angiography.

What’s worse wet or dry macular degeneration?

Wet macular degeneration is more serious and is the leading cause of permanent central vision loss. Though the dry type is less serious, it can lead to the wet type if not monitored closely by a doctor.

What do people see with macular degeneration?

One of the most common early signs of macular degeneration is the presence of drusen — tiny yellow deposits under the retina — or pigment clumping. Your doctor can see these when examining the eyes. Your doctor may also ask you to look at an Amsler grid — a pattern of straight lines that resemble a checkerboard.

Which is worse, dry or wet macular degeneration?

The wet form of macular degeneration is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss. When both eyes are affected, you may experience a significant decrease in your quality of life. The dry form of age-related macular degeneration is much more common and tends to progress more slowly, allowing you to keep most of your vision.

What is the latest treatment for dry macular degeneration?

Your Treatment Options. Laser therapy. Your doctor may suggest a treatment with high-energy laser light that can sometimes destroy actively growing abnormal blood vessels from AMD. Photodynamic laser therapy. It’s a two-step treatment that uses a light-sensitive drug to damage your abnormal blood vessels.