Age-related macular degeneration

Introduction: Age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration: AMD is a common eye disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing ... more about Age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration: Deterioration of the central field of vision. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Age-related macular degeneration is available below.

Symptoms of Age-related macular degeneration

• Visual distortion
• Central vision deterioration
• No eye pain
• Blind spot
• No loss of color vision

See full list of 8 symptoms of Age-related macular degeneration

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Age-related macular degeneration:

• Vision & Eye Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Eye Tests
  • Home Vision Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Age-related macular degeneration

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Age-related macular degeneration

• Visual acuity test
• Dilated pupil examination
• Amsler grid
• Fluorescein angiography
• Opthalmoscope

Read more about tests for Age-related macular degeneration

Wrongly Diagnosed with Age-related macular degeneration?

• Misdiagnosis of Age-related macular degeneration
• Failure to diagnose Age-related macular degeneration
• Underlying causes of Age-related macular degeneration (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Failure to diagnose Age-related macular degeneration

Misdiagnosis and Age-related macular degeneration

Alzheimer's disease over-diagnosed: The well-known disease of Alzheimer's disease is often over-diagnosed. Patients tend to assume that any memory loss or forgetulness symptom might be Alzheimer's,...read more »

Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for a patient to show mental decline to dementia. Whereas this can, of course, occur due to...read more »

Tremor need not be Parkinson's disease: There is the tendency to believe that any tremor symptom, or shakiness, means Parkinson's disease. The reality is that there are various possibilities, such as benign...read more »

Rare diseases misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease: A rare genetic disorder is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease for men in their 50's. The disease Fragile X disorder can show only mild symptoms in the early...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Age-related macular degeneration

Causes of Age-related macular degeneration

Read more about causes of Age-related macular degeneration.

More information about causes of Age-related macular degeneration:

• Age-related macular degeneration as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Age-related macular degeneration

Treatments for Age-related macular degeneration

• Watchful waiting
• Eyeglasses
• Magnifying glasses
• Laser treatment - mainly for wet AMD

Read more about treatments for Age-related macular degeneration

Videos for Age-related macular degeneration

Patient Surveys for Age-related macular degeneration

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Age-related macular degeneration
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Age-related macular degeneration

Prognosis for Age-related macular degeneration: Visual degradation; rarely leads to total blindness.

More about prognosis of Age-related macular degeneration

Reseach about Age-related macular degeneration

Visit our research pages for current research about Age-related macular degeneration treatments.

Clinical Trials for Age-related macular degeneration

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Age-related macular degeneration include:

• Celecoxib to Treat Macular Degeneration in Patients Receiving Photodynamic Therapy - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Celecoxib
• Identification and Treatment of Feeder Vessels in Macular Degeneration - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Macugen (Pegaptanib Sodium) Alone, Versus Macugen in Combination With PDT (Photodynamic Therapy) With Visudyne (Verteporfin) in Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) with Visudyne (verteporfin),Macugen (pegaptanib sodium)
• Study To Determine Safety/Efficacy of Lucentis For Treatment Of Retinal Angiomatous Proliferation Secondary To Age Related Macular Degeneration - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Lucentis,Ranibizumab
• Screening for Studies on Retinovascular Diseases - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

See full list of 136 Clinical Trials for Age-related macular degeneration

Statistics for Age-related macular degeneration

• Medical statistics for Age-related macular degeneration
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Age-related macular degeneration
• Death and Mortality statistics for Age-related macular degeneration
• Society statistics for Age-related macular degeneration

Types of Age-related macular degeneration

• Dry AMD - 90% of cases, one eye at a time.
• Wet AMD - only 10% of cases, but more severe, rapid deterioration.

Read more about Types of Age-related macular degeneration

Stories from Users Related to Age-related macular degeneration

• Are all these related?
• Muteness in 3 brothers of various ages...
• constellation of symptoms, could they be related?
• Gay sex when age 7
• wet macular degeneration
• declared legally insane at the age of 10
• Gout and things related to it
• Can anyone relate?
• Help this writer accurately portray asthmatic related storyline
• Macular Degeneration
• Osgood Slaughter Disease at age 23
• Osgood Slaughter Disease at age 23
• Daughter age 5
• Progressive Macular Hypomelanosis
• retinal branch occulsion
• Are these issues related?
• Are these symptoms related???
• Amnesitic Disorder: forgot all number related things
• Can anyone relate or help
• Are these issues related?

Related forums and stories:

• Eye Conditions (104)
  • red veins in the eyes???
  • episcleritis- alternative treatment
  • blurred vision in one eye
  • ICE Syndrome
  • Sarcoidosis
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Age-related macular degeneration, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Age-related macular degeneration

Are You at Risk for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: NEI (Excerpt)

AMD is a common eye disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving. In some people, AMD advances so slowly that it will have little effect on their vision as they age. But in others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in one or both eyes. (Source: excerpt from Are You at Risk for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: NEI)

Facts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration: NEI (Excerpt)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that affects your central vision. It is a common cause of vision loss among people over age of 60. Because only the center of your vision is usually affected, people rarely go blind from the disease. However, AMD can sometimes make it difficult to read, drive, or perform other daily activities that require fine, central vision. (Source: excerpt from Facts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration: NEI)

Aging and Your Eyes - Age Page - Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)

The macula is part of the eye with millions of cells that are sensitive to light. The macula makes vision possible from the center part of the eye. Over time, age-related macular degeneration can ruin sharp vision needed to see objects clearly and to do common tasks like driving and reading. In some cases, it can be treated with lasers. (Source: excerpt from Aging and Your Eyes - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

Definitions of Age-related macular degeneration:

Corrected, or altered formally. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Age-related macular degeneration is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Age-related macular degeneration, or a subtype of Age-related macular degeneration, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Age-related macular degeneration as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet