Animation of Wet and Dry Macular Degeneration

0:00 Age Related Macular Degeneration affects the dark area of the retina shown here, known as the macula. There are two types of AMD, dry and wet.

0:24 There is also an advanced dry form called geographic atrophy. The dry is caused by the accumulation of debris called drusen, which first builds up in one eye. Usually both eyes can develop the disease.

0:34 The dry form of age related macular degeneration may turn into the more serious wet form, characterized by the creation of many new blood vessels and bleeding in the macula. The advanced wet and dry types of the disease lead to the gradual loss of one's central vision while peripheral vision remains intact.

0:54 If you had AMD and were looking at this image, this is what you might see, a blurred center with more sharpness on the sides.

  / 135247049860054  

https://www.macular.org/

   • Animation of Wet and Dry Macular Dege...  

American Macular Degeneration Foundation
P.O. Box 515
Northampton, Massachusetts 01061-0515
413.268.7660
1.888.MACULAR (1.888.622.8527)

Welcome to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation where you can learn about this disease, find valuable resources and help conquer macular degeneration.

Founded on June 1, 1996

Few people are aware that macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease and that it is the leading cause of vision loss for those aged 55 and older in the United States, affecting more than 10 million Americans.

Macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The retina's central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail.

As people age, their chances for developing eye diseases increase dramatically. Unfortunately, the specific factors that cause macular degeneration are not conclusively known and research into this little-understood disease is limited by insufficient funding.

The American Macular Degeneration Foundation is committed to the prevention and cure of macular degeneration and offers hope and support to those afflicted and their families. The Foundation is a voice in establishing the national research agenda for macular degeneration through promoting an alliance among the scientific community, government, and victims of the disease and their families to ensure the prevention and cure of the disease.

The AMDF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, publicly supported organization.

There are two basic types of macular degeneration: "dry" and "wet." Approximately 85% to 90% of the cases of macular degeneration are the "dry" (atrophic) type. Approximately 10-15% of the cases of macular degeneration are the "wet" (exudative) type.

The AMDF Web site offers many tools to help you better understand and cope with macular degeneration. We encourage you to visit our website, and contact us.

Mission: The American Macular Degeneration Foundation works for the prevention, treatment, and cure of macular degeneration through raising funds, educating the public and supporting scientific research.