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		MACULAR DEGENERATION The retina works like the film in a camera. It receives an image to be "developed" by the brain. Tiny blood vessels provide oxygen and other nutrients to the retina's light-sensitive cells. WHAT IS AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION? AMD refers to an eye condition called age-related macular degeneration. AMD is a very common cause of vision loss in the U.S. It usually strikes people over the age of 60 and is progressive in nature. The macula is a small spot in the center of the retina located at the back of the eye. You use your macula for central vision. As a result, the center of vision may become blurred, distorted or develop a blind spot. When a large amount of central vision is lost, people find it very hard to do simple, everyday tasks that require sharp vision. This includes reading, sewing, driving or even recognizing faces. Fortunately, AMD almost never results in complete blindness. Side vision is usually not damaged. AMD can develop quickly or slowly. The disease usually affects one eye first and then the other. There are two forms of AMD: wet (exudative) and dry (non-exudative). The wet form is less common. Still, it causes the most severe loss of sight from AMD. It is called "wet" because tiny blood vessels grow rapidly beneath the retina. They often break, leaking blood and fluid. This affects sight and causes scar tissue. The "dry" form is caused by a breakdown or thinning of the tissues in the macula. It is very common. This type accounts for 70 to 80 percent of the cases of AMD. Vision loss with dry AMD is usually not as severe, but there is currently no treatment or cure. HOW IS AMD DETECTED? As AMD gets worse, the signs become more obvious. If you have AMD, you may notice that: straight lines in things that you see--such as telephone poles, the sides of buildings or streetlight posts--appear wavy; type in books, magazines and newspapers appears blurry and dark or empty spaces may block the center of your vision People with AMD should check their central vision separately in each eye everyday, and report any changes to their eye doctor. These changes include: difficulty reading; distortion of straight lines or difficulty seeing faces. AMD is best detected with an eye examination by an eye doctor. WHO IS LIKELY TO DEVELOP AMD? Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss for people age 75 and older. For those over 65, AMD causes the most new cases of vision loss. Recent research found at least one gene linked to AMD. However, most people with AMD do not have this gene. Those who have it may be more likely to get the disease. AMD may also be linked with other hereditary factors, diet, smoking and other conditions that are not yet clearly understood. HOW IS AMD TREATED? There are no drugs available today to control or prevent AMD. Some people with wet AMD can be helped with laser treatment or injections. But for these patients, the disease must be detected at the earliest stages for successful treatment. In laser therapy, a beam of very strong light passes through the front of the eye to the retina. It treats the retina by sealing off the leaking blood vessels at the back of the eye. This can stop the spread of weak, new blood vessels. Laser treatment causes almost no pain. You do not need to stay in the hospital for the treatment. Research is taking place to find new treatments for AMD. Still, a cure may be decades away. WHY IS EARLY DIAGNOSIS SO IMPORTANT? As AMD gets worse, new tiny blood vessels in case the macula. Laser therapy does not work well once these leaky, new blood vessels have grown too near to the center of the macula. This is why advanced cases of wet AMD are likely to be untreatable. This wet type of AMD often gets worse quickly. The key to preventing vision loss is regular eye exams. People over 65 should have their eyes checked every year--even if there is no problem seeing. People with AMD should return for an eye exam as often as the doctor recommends. They should also follow their doctor's treatment plan carefully to protect their remaining vision. LOW VISION REHABILITATION For many people who lose some degree of sight to AMD, low vision rehabilitation can help to make the most of their remaining sight. Low vision rehabilitation can help you keep your independence and improve your quality of life. Orientation and mobility training can give you skills that help you travel safely despite your limited vision. You can also learn ways to arrange your household to make living with low vision easier. Low vision aids are often prescribed for people with partial sight. Some low vision aids include: Telescopic lenses, either hand-held or attached to spectacles. These can help you to see distant objects more clearly. Microscopic lenses, or special eyeglasses can increase print size and improve your ability to read. Hand-held and stand magnifiers can be used to magnify print and your own handwriting. Computers with large screens and special software can enlarge print and graphics. Such tools open up a world of information. Adaptive devices and techniques, also include very bright reading lamps, large-print and recorded books, magazines, newspapers, talking clocks and a wide range of others. These can all help you keep the lifestyle you are used to. Westmark II Plaza 2699 86th St. Urbandale, Iowa 50322 515.270.2490 800.779.2490 M-W, Friday 8am-5pm Thursday 9am-7pm Saturdays by appointment only Fox Prairie Plaza 640 South 50th Street, Suite 2180 West Des Moines, Iowa 50265 515.225.8667 Monday-Friday 9am-6pm

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