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Macular degeneration care
Macular Degeneration Care
Age-related macular degeneration affects the center of your sight, the part you use to read, drive and see faces. Regular exams, the right supplement for some people and quick action on new symptoms all help protect it.
Catch changes early, act fast.
AMD often starts with no symptoms. A dilated exam and retina photos show the early signs. If your doctor finds intermediate AMD, a specific vitamin formula may lower the chance of it getting worse. If straight lines start to look wavy, call your eye doctor right away.
What your eye doctor checks.
An AMD visit looks closely at the macula, the small center of the retina.
Central vision
Reading charts and near tasks show how well the center works.
Dilated retina
Drops widen the pupil so the doctor can see the macula.
Retina imaging
Photos and scans record the layers of the retina.
Drusen
Yellow deposits under the retina are an early AMD sign.
Wet or dry
Leaking blood vessels mean wet AMD, which needs fast care.
Your risk
Age, smoking and family history all raise the chance of AMD.
Watch at home
Wavy lines are a warning sign.
Your doctor may give you an Amsler grid to check each eye. Some people also qualify for home monitoring devices prescribed by their doctor.
Do not wait
If lines bend, a dark spot appears in the center or sight drops suddenly, call your eye doctor the same day.
Treatment depends on the type.
Eye vitamins
The AREDS2 formula is for people with intermediate or late AMD.
Injections
Wet AMD is treated with medicine a retina specialist injects.
Newer options
Two injections are approved to slow geographic atrophy.
A simple plan for healthy maculas.
Imaging gives a clear baseline.
Retina photos and scans let your doctor compare visits side by side and notice small changes before you do.
Products to ask your doctor about.
Vitamins are not right for every stage of AMD, and smokers need the right formula. Ask before you start.
PreserVision AREDS 2
An eye vitamin based on the AREDS2 formula studied by the National Eye Institute.
Shop eye vitamins
Keep exploring.
Fast answers.
Can AMD be cured?
There is no cure, but treatment can slow some forms and protect the vision you have, especially when changes are caught early.
Should everyone take AREDS2 vitamins?
No. The National Eye Institute found the formula helped people with intermediate or late AMD, not people without AMD or with only early signs.
Why does the formula matter for smokers?
The first AREDS formula contained beta-carotene, which raised lung cancer risk in smokers. AREDS2 swapped it for lutein and zeaxanthin.
Do injections hurt?
The eye is numbed first. Most people feel pressure rather than pain. Your retina specialist will explain what to expect.
What is geographic atrophy?
An advanced form of dry AMD where areas of the retina thin out. Two medicines given by injection are approved to slow it.
Protect your central vision.
Find an eye doctor near you to check your maculas and set a plan.
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Sources and notes
- National Eye Institute: Age-related macular degeneration
- National Eye Institute: AREDS/AREDS2 frequently asked questions
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: Amsler grid
- All Vision Rescue sources
- Exam-room photography is an owned Eye Care Advisors asset approved for use by Vision Rescue. Product names belong to their makers and are listed for information only.
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Only an eye care professional who has examined you can recommend what is right for your eyes.
