Age-related macular degeneration (also known as AMD, ARMD & macular degeneration) is a condition that affects a tiny part of the retina called the macula which is used to control visual acuity. This condition is not painful, does not lead to a total loss in sight, however, does cause problems with your central vision.

AMD affects the vision you use when looking directly at something, for example when you are watching television or reading a newspaper. It can cause your central vision to become distorted and blurry and in time can lead to a blank patch in the centre of your vision.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss amongst the over 50s and is thought to affect more than 500,000 people in the UK to some degree.

There are two types of AMD – “wet” AMD and “dry” AMD.  They are called “wet” and “dry” due to what can be seen when your macular is examined and not because of how your eye feels.

The “dry” form accounts for around 90% of cases and occurs when there is a build-up of waste materials beneath the macular and thinning of the retina at the macula. Most people with this condition have close to normal vision or milder sight loss.

The “wet” form, also known as neovascular or exudative AMD is more serious. The “wet” form develops when the cells of the macula stop working correctly and the body begins to grow new blood vessels to fix the problem. Unfortunately, these blood vessels grow in the wrong place and leak blood and fluid into the retina, causing distortion of vision, as well as blind spots and loss of central vision. These abnormal blood vessels and their bleeding eventually form a scar, leading to a permanent loss of central vision.