Age-related macular degeneration explained

What AMD is

AMD affects the macula, the tiny central part of the retina at the back of the eye that gives you sharp, detailed, straight-ahead vision. When the macula is damaged, the centre of what you see becomes blurred, distorted or blank, while the outer edges of your vision usually stay clear. This is why people with AMD may struggle to read, watch television or recognise faces, yet can still move around a room because their peripheral vision is preserved. AMD does not cause complete blindness in the sense of total darkness, but the loss of central vision has a big impact on everyday tasks. It becomes more common with age and is linked to smoking and family history.

Dry and wet AMD

There are two main forms. Dry AMD is the more common type and develops slowly over many years as the macula gradually thins and small deposits build up. It usually causes a slow, steady blurring of central vision and, at present, has no specific medical cure — though it is managed and monitored. Wet AMD is less common but much more aggressive: abnormal, fragile blood vessels grow under the macula and leak fluid or blood, damaging vision quickly, sometimes over days or weeks. Wet AMD often begins in one eye and can cause sudden distortion, where straight lines appear wavy or bent. Crucially, wet AMD can be treated, and the sooner treatment starts the more sight can be saved.

Spotting the warning signs

The early symptoms of AMD are changes in central vision: blurring, a smudge or missing patch in the middle of what you look at, colours seeming less bright, or needing more light to read. The most important warning sign of wet AMD is distortion — straight lines such as door frames, window edges or lines of text appearing bent, wavy or broken. A simple home check called the Amsler grid, a pattern of straight lines with a central dot, can help you notice distortion early. Because wet AMD moves fast, any sudden blurring or distortion of central vision in one or both eyes should be treated as urgent and checked without delay.

How it is treated

Treatment depends on the type. For wet AMD, the main treatment is a course of injections into the eye that block the chemical driving the abnormal blood vessels; these injections can stop leakage, preserve vision and in some cases improve it. They work best when started early, which is why fast referral matters so much — delays can mean permanent loss. The eye is numbed first, and although the idea of an eye injection sounds daunting, the procedure is quick and routine. For dry AMD there is no injection treatment, but not smoking, a healthy diet rich in leafy greens and coloured fruits, and certain vitamin supplements may help slow progression in some people; your eye specialist will advise.

Living well with AMD

Losing central vision affects reading, cooking, hobbies and confidence, but a great deal of help is available. Low-vision aids such as magnifiers, brighter task lighting, large-print and audio books, and screen-reading technology can keep people independent and active. Registering as sight impaired can unlock practical and financial support. Regular monitoring of the other eye is important, because AMD can develop there too, and continuing wet AMD injections as advised protects the sight you have. Stopping smoking is one of the most powerful things you can do to reduce the risk of AMD worsening. With support and prompt treatment, many people with AMD continue to live full and independent lives.