Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month

February is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month. AMD is a condition that develops as we get older. By the age of 60, about 1 in 200 people have AMD. In this month’s blog, we’ll explore AMD – what it is, and how it can be treated. But we also want to show that it is nothing to fear, and as examples of brilliant people with AMD show, it provides an opportunity for personal growth and new, creative acts.

AMD is a low vision problem (it doesn’t cause total blindness) which makes everyday activities, such as reading and recognising faces, difficult. It affects the middle part of your vision by blurring lines and making objects seem smaller than they are. It also makes colours seem less bright and could even cause hallucinations.

There are two types of AMD, “wet” and “dry”. Wet AMD accounts for 10-15% of cases and Dry AMD for 85-90%. Wet AMD is more severe and is caused by atypical blood vessels around the macula and retina. Dry AMD involves yellow deposits called “drusen”, which contain waste products and lipids which multiply in the retina, which may mean that the macula is less able to generate visual signals. So, that’s the science!

So, what can you do about it? There is currently no treatment for dry AMD, but taking vitamins C and E, zinc, copper and beta-carotene can prevent it from worsening. For wet AMD, treatment can involve using drugs that block the abnormal growth of new blood vessels. 

More transformative treatment could be on the way. Dr Mark Humayun of the University of Southern California is trying to produce the world’s first artificial retina. In a small trial, they created a synthetic scaffold seeded with retinal pigment epithelium (the cells damaged by AMD) which they placed on the back of the eye where those cells were dead. 3 out of 4 patients experienced improvements in vision.

Preventative practices are likely the best way to go. All forms of AMD derive from damage to cells beneath the retina, so protecting the eyes from damage is the best strategy. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for AMD, so quitting smoking (or not starting) is a good idea. Exercise and healthy eating will decrease blood pressure and cholesterol, which could also reduce your chances of getting AMD. 

If you do have AMD, you’re in good company. The legendary actress Dame Judi Dench, who has one eye with dry AMD and one eye with wet AMD, defiantly stated, “I’m not going to be beaten by my eyes.” When she goes to the cinema, she has a friend describe the scenes to her. The author Stephen King, whilst not yet suffering symptoms from his AMD, joked about only retaining peripheral vision, “that’s the part I want to keep as a man and as a writer – what I see out of the corners.” Whilst the French painter Edgar Degas, initially changed his painting style to include more broad strokes. When his sight deteriorated further and he could no longer paint, he started creating sculptures.

Of course, AMD is a condition that will require you to adapt and make some changes to your life. But it makes possible stories of resilience, endeavour, and beauty that we might not have access to otherwise.