How Age-Related Macular Degeneration Affects Your Vision as You Get Older

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the U.S. 

Macular degeneration affects the macula — the part of the eye that lets you see fine details so you can do things like read and write. When the macula is damaged, you can experience central vision loss. Central vision is the sharp, defined part of your vision and includes near and far vision. 

ARMD doesn’t always cause complete vision loss. But people can experience enough central vision loss that they have trouble with day-to-day activities. And they may not be able to do certain things, like drive.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ARMD, here’s what you should know about symptoms and treatment options. 

What are the different types of macular degeneration?

There are two types of age-related macular degeneration.

1. Dry age-related macular degeneration

Dry ARMD, or atrophic age-related macular degeneration, is the most common type of ARMD. The macula thins out as you age. And a thin macula doesn’t work as well. As the macula becomes thinner, central vision becomes less sharp and clear. Dry ARMD usually affects both eyes. 

2. Wet age-related macular degeneration 

Wet ARMD is also called neovascular or exudative ARMD. In this type, abnormal blood vessels start growing under the macula. This can lead to bleeding, leaking, and scarring in the macula. These changes can happen quickly, so wet ARMD can lead to rapid central vision loss. Wet ARMD can affect one or both eyes.

The two types aren’t completely separate. Dry ARMD can turn into wet ARMD.

What are the symptoms of age-related macular degeneration?

There are different stages of ARMD: early, intermediate, and late. You can move from one stage to another over time. And you experience different symptoms depending on the stage:

• Early: With early-stage ARMD there are no vision changes. 

• Intermediate: In intermediate-stage ARMD, you may experience some changes in your vision, but most people have no symptoms. Some people notice more trouble seeing in the dark. Others may notice some mild blurriness in the center of their vision.

• Late: With late-stage ARMD you experience vision changes. This includes blurry vision, blank spots in vision, and straight lines that appear wavy. Colors can look less bright. It can also be hard to see in dim light and very hard to see in the dark. 

Most people with dry ARMD move from early to late stages very slowly. And many people never move beyond the early or intermediate stage. 

Wet ARMD is more severe and aggressive than dry ARMD. People with wet ARMD may move from the early to late stage very quickly. 

What are the risk factors for age-related macular degeneration?

You’re more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration if you:

• Are older: As the name implies, the chance of developing age-related macular degeneration increases as you get older. You can develop ARMD anytime after you turn 50. But the risk goes up with age. Between your mid 60s and mid 70s, the risk of developing ARMD increases by 300%. 

• Smoke: You’re more likely to develop ARMD if you smoke. 

• Have family members with ARMD: Studies show that genetics plays a role in the development and progression of ARMD. If ARMD runs in your family, you’re more likely to develop it. You’re also more likely to develop late-stage ARMD if your family members also had late-stage ARMD.

• Have drusen deposits: Drusen are small, white-yellow deposits that develop in the macula as you age. Small amounts of drusen are normal. People who develop many or large drusen are at higher risk for developing late-stage ARMD. 

How do you treat age-related macular degeneration?

There’s no cure for ARMD, but treatment can slow its progression. 

If you have early-stage or intermediate-stage dry ARMD, try to eat a diet that supports healthy eyes — and stop smoking. Your eye doctor may also recommend that you take AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study) vitamins. You can get these vitamins over the counter. Studies show that taking these vitamins decreases your risk of moving to late-stage ARMD by 25%. 

If you have wet ARMD, you may need treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). Anti-VEGF medications work by stopping blood vessels from forming. An ophthalmologist will inject these medications into the back of your eye once a month. While this seems alarming, rest assured that the procedure is painless. Your ophthalmologist will give you a local anesthetic so you’re comfortable during the procedure.

While it’s not exactly a treatment, you can also use an Amsler grid to test your vision at home each day. An Amsler grid is a simple grid with a dot in the center that you stare at for a few minutes. You can look at the grid on your phone or computer or print a paper copy to keep at home. 

If you notice changes — like missing spots or wavy or blurred lines in your Amsler grid — this could be a sign of late-stage ARMD. By catching symptoms early, your eye doctor may be able to start anti-VEGF medications to prevent vision loss. 

Can you prevent age-related macular degeneration?

You can’t always prevent ARMD. Certain things that lead to ARMD are beyond your control — like your age, genetics, and eye color. 

A diet high in eye-friendly nutrients will benefit your overall health, but it can’t prevent ARMD. And vitamins that support eye health won’t prevent ARMD either. 

One thing you can do to decrease your risk of developing ARMD is to stop smoking. 

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Written by:

Nishika Reddy, MD

Nishika Reddy, MD, is an attending physician at the University of Utah. She provides comprehensive and cornea medical care at the Moran Eye Center and serves as clinical assistant professor.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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