macular degeneration Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp vision. Sharp central vision is needed for seeing clearly and for common daily activities such as reading and driving. In some people, AMD advances so slowly that it will have little effect on their vision as they age. But in other people, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in one or both eyes. The Details The retina is a paper-thin tissue that lines the back of the eye and sends visual signals to the brain. In the middle of the retina is a tiny area called the macula. The macula is made up of millions of light-sensing cells that help to produce your vision. Age-Related Macular Degeneration happens in two forms: 1.  Ninety percent of all people with AMD have what is called "dry AMD".  Scientists are still unsure what causes dry AMD.  Studies suggest that an area of the retina becomes diseased, leading to the slow breakdown of the light-sensing cells in the macula and a gradual loss of vision. 2.  Although only 10 percent of all people with Age-Related Macular Degeneration have "wet AMD", it accounts for 90 percent of all blindness from the disease. As dry AMD worsens, new blood vessels may begin to grow and cause "wet" AMD. Because these new blood vessels tend to be very fragile, they will often leak blood and fluid under the macula. This causes rapid damage to the macula that can lead to the loss of vision. The greatest risk factor for Age-Related Macular Degeneration is age. Although AMD may occur during middle age, studies show that people over age 60 are clearly at greater risk than other age groups. A large study found that people in middle age have about a 2 percent risk of getting Age-Related Macular Degeneration, but this risk increased to nearly 30 percent in those people over age 75. Other Age-Related Macular Degeneration risk factors include: Gender - Women tend to be at greater risk than men. Race - Whites are much more likely to lose vision from Age-Related Macular Degeneration than Blacks. Smoking - Smoking may increase the risk of AMD. Family History.  Those with immediate family members who have Age-Related Macular Degeneration are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Symptoms Both dry and wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration cause no pain. The most common early sign of dry AMD 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. The classic wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration symptom is that straight lines appear crooked. This results when fluid from the leaking blood vessels gathers and lifts the macula, distorting vision. A small blind spot may also appear in wet AMD, resulting in loss of one's vision. Detecting Age-Related Macular Degeneration Your eye care professional may suspect AMD if you are over age 60 and have had recent changes in your central vision. To look for signs of the disease, he or she will use eye drops to dilate, or enlarge, your pupils. Dilating the pupils allows your eye doctor to view the back of the eye better. You may also be asked to view an Amsler grid, which is a pattern that looks like a checkerboard. Early changes in your vision will cause the grid to appear distorted, another Age-Related Macular Degeneration symptom. Treating AMD No treatment exists yet for dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration. It has been suggested that taking certain extra vitamins and minerals may slow the progress of the disease. But this treatment needs much more research before scientists can know for sure if it's helpful. Eye doctors can treat some cases of wet AMD with laser eye surgery or Lasik surgery. This treatment involves aiming a strong light beam onto the new blood vessels to destroy them. Laser eye surgery and Lasik surgery is done in a doctor's office or in an eye clinic and lasts a short period of time. Although a person may go home the same day, he or she will need to return for follow-up exams. Protecting Your Vision Although there is no effective treatment for dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration at this time, it is crucial that those who progress to wet AMD and need laser eye surgery or Lasik surgery have it before the disease destroys your central vision. For this reason, if you have dry AMD or are age 60 or older, you should have your eyes examined through dilated pupils at least once a year. You may also want to get an Amsler grid from your eye doctor to check your vision at home.