February is Age-related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month
More than nine million Americans have age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a painless eye disease that is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. for people over the age of 65. That number is expected to nearly double over the next 10 years as the baby boomer generation begins heading into retirement age.
Because the progression of macular degeneration tends to be slow, those living with AMD often ignore the initial warning signs or wait until their vision has become severely deteriorated before they seek the appropriate medical care. The single best thing any of us can do to protect ourselves from the sight-robbing disease is to have an annual eye exam administered by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows us to see fine detail, gradually destroying central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for completing common daily tasks such as reading and driving.
AMD comes in two forms: wet and dry.
- For dry AMD: the most common early sign is blurred vision. As fewer cells in the macula are able to function, people will see details less clearly in front of them, such as faces or words in a book. Often this blurred vision will go away in brighter light. If the loss of these light-sensing cells becomes great, people may see a small, but growing, blind spot in the middle of their field of vision.
- For wet AMD: the classic early symptom is that straight lines appear crooked. This results when fluid from the leaking blood vessels gather and lifts the macula, distorting vision. A small blind spot may also appear in wet AMD, resulting in loss of one’s central vision.
The mission of Envision is to enhance the personal independence of people who are blind low vision, through employment, low vision rehabilitation and public education.
While there is no cure for most forms of AMD, early detection and intervention is key, and Envision can help! For more information, read the Envision Macular Degeneration Brochure available for download in both English and Spanish.