AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration)
AMD or age-related macular degeneration refers to the degeneration of the macula or the central part of the retina, which is involved in processing fine-detail visual information. People with the advanced forms of this disease lose the ability to read and to see the fine details of what they are viewing. There are two major types of AMD, dry AMD or wet AMD, which refers to the presence or absence of bleeding associated with the degenerated retinal tissue. AMD is a major cause of severe central vision blindness in people over the age of 50 and the American Academy of ophthalmology recommends people over the age of 65 to receive annual dilated retinal examinations to screen for the condition. Severe visual loss from AMD usually occurs in the bleeding or the "wet AMD". Major risk factors include age greater than 65 and especially if older than 75 years of age, family members with AMD, cigarette smoking, light colored eyes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, female gender, and cardiovascular disease.
