Macular Degeneration
and Your Two Eyes

Sun Protection is a fact of life™

How Can You Avoid Losing
Your Eyesight?

Wet macular degeneration is one of the worst eye diseases around.

Here is what you need to know with the hope of preventing it, which is also known as AMD.

The orange section in the illustration below, refers to the interior surface of your eye called the retina.

The bright yellow spot towards the right is your macula, which provides your central vision.

How Many Types Are There?

• Dry AMD

• Wet AMD



What is The Difference?

• Dry AMD is normally discovered by having yellow or white build up on the macula.

• Wet AMD is normally noticed by having inflammation, leakage of fluid and bleeding all over underneath the retina including the macula.

What Are the AMD symptoms?

A. For Wet,

• Partially blocked or blurry vision

• Floaters moving inside the eye (like spots)

• Crooked or wavy vision

• Headaches

• Irritation in the eye

• Feeling a hair is in the eye

• Partial blindness or complete central vision loss

B. For Dry,

• Might no longer recognize every face

• Central vision may lose its clarity and sharpness

• Blurred words while reading

• Need for additional lighting

• Cloudier vision

For better understanding please read this true story,

Click Here For True Story Part One
Click Here For True Story part Two

Cause of AMD?

A. In the dry case,

• Age breaks up the upper layer of the retina

• Drusen (yellow or white spots) builds up in the macula



B. In the Wet case,

• Older age

• Blood vessels beneath the retina go hay wire by inflaming and bleeding


Who is at Risk More?


• Older people

• Overweight people

• People with a family history

• Smokers

• White people

• People who have lighter color eyes

• Women

• People with poor diet, lacking vitamins and minerals

• People who are outdoors with no sun protection or UV protection

• People who do not use UV sunglasses

What Are the Choices for Macular_Degeneration_Treatment?


For wet,

• Hot laser

• Cold laser (photodynamic therapy, PDT)

• Surgery (not too popular)

• Injections


For dry AMD, there is no cure or real treatment.

Macular Degeneration Prevention Facts:

• Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables

• Eat plenty of leafy greens

• Eat fish

• Take antioxidants like zinc and copper

• Take vitamins A (Beta Carotene), C, E

• Take Lutein as a caplet (also found in spinach or corn)

• Wear a wide brimmed sun protection hat

• Wear UV protection sunglasses rated 99% to 100% for UVA and UVB both

• See your ophthalmologist (eye doctor) once a year or sooner if needed

• Consult your doctor before taking any of the above, as each case is different

Cataract and Macular Degeneration, Related?


They may not be related at all, but ultraviolet radiation, sun exposure or UV rays could be the underlying cause for both of them.

Additional useful articles:

Macular-degeneration-news
Macular-degeneration-research
Macular-degeneration-Symptoms

Join in and share your experience or story. How?
Simply click here to go to Macular Degeneration Stories