Eyes

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on macular degeneration. National Eye Institute Public Information Office  Phone: 301-496-5248 Email: 2020@nei.nih.gov  www.nei.nih.gov American Academy of Ophthalmology  Phone: 415-561-8555 Ext. 223 http://www.aao.org/ Macular Degeneration Foundation  Phone: 1-888-633-3937 www.eyesight.org American Foundation for the Blind  Phone: 1-800-232-5463 Phone: 212-502-7662TDD (access for the hard-of-hearing)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in people older than 55 years of age. Macular degeneration causes loss of the sharp, central vision needed for many daily tasks that involve looking straight at objects. People with AMD may find it difficult or impossible to drive, read, sew, or recognize faces.

Scientists don’t know. Factors associated with the aging process obviously play a big role, since AMD occurs as people grow older. Heredity is another factor. People with a close relative who had AMD have a greater chance of developing AMD themselves. The “wet” form (see below) is associated with smoking and high blood pressure. Experts

Yes. Some rare kinds of macular degeneration occur in children. Called juvenile macular degeneration, they are hereditary diseases caused by abnormal genes passed from parents to their children. Macular damage can result from injuries to the eye, exposure to intense light, and infections. People with severe myopia, or nearsightedness, may develop macular degeneration. Macular damage

The doctor will take your medical history, ask about changes in your vision, and check your eyesight. Then you will get tests that can detect not just AMD, but other eye problems such as glaucoma and retina detachments. The doctor will give you eye drops that enlarge, or dilate, the pupil of the eye. Dilating

There is no proven treatment for dry AMD. Doctors usually watch or monitor dry AMD for the first signs that it is progressing to the more dangerous wet AMD. People with dry AMD usually return to the eye doctor on a regular basis for checkups every 6 to 12 months. They also may be given

If detected at an early stage, wet AMD can be treated with two methods, laser surgery or photodynamic therapy. Laser Surgery Laser surgery is done in a doctor’s office or clinic and takes only a few minutes. Individuals undergoing treatment may get a local anesthetic to ease any discomfort from a contact placed on the

Clinical trials do provide people with the earliest possible access to potential new treatments for a disease. In addition to the benefits, there are potential risks of being in a clinical trial. The new treatment, for instance, may not be effective and may have unrecognized side effects. Among the trials underway are surgery to remove

Research studies are underway on the causes, prevention, and treatment of AMD. The Federal Government has given AMD higher priority in recent years. That’s because AMD will become a more serious national health problem as “baby boomers” grow older. Scientists are trying to identify genes that cause AMD, or increase risk for the disease. Once