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Patient Center

Resources for Patients with AMD


Nearly 15 million people in the U.S. alone have some form of macular degeneration.

A diagnosis of AMD can be overwhelming to patients and their families. Since there is no cure for AMD, this sight-threatening condition can often make affected individuals feel helpless. Patients may become disheartened thinking about the possibility of losing their vision or not being able to independently go about their daily activities.

Learning more about AMD, or age-related macular degeneration, can help patients understand what steps they can take to maintain their independence, even with permanently impaired vision, and what treatments options are being developed through AMD research. The information presented in our Patient Center is designed to help patients and their families learn about AMD, including an investigational device for patients with central vision loss in both eyes.

AMD Affects Central Vision

In general, AMD affects central or "straight ahead" vision, making it difficult to see things that require detailed vision. Reading, cooking, and recognizing people's faces all require detailed central vision and can be difficult tasks for people affected by AMD. Even watching television can be very difficult. This happens because AMD damages the area in the back of the eye that is responsible for your detailed vision - the macula. The "wet" form of the disease can progress quickly, while the more common "dry" form develops over a longer time period. If you would like more medical information on AMD, click the AMD FACTS link.

Complete Blindness is Rare

Although there currently is no cure for AMD, don't be discouraged. The majority of people who develop AMD have the dry form which progresses very slowly. These patients can often see well enough to function independently for many years, or a lifetime. In fact, there are various levels of vision that remain and can be utilized with AMD. Many people with AMD can still read the newspaper, drive to the store, and watch television. For individuals affected by wet AMD, there are treatment options available that use a laser light to treat the damaged macula and stabilize vision, or at least slow down the progression that leads to vision loss.

We encourage you to speak with your eye care specialist about what treatment options may apply to you.