Age-Related Macular Degeneration Quiz
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Reduced vision in one or both eyes
Blurry vision
A partial loss of vision
Straight lines seem bent
Distorted vision
Blind spots in vision
Darkened vision
Need brighter light when reading
I can't see from one eye
Eye problems
My eyesight is deteriorating
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
An eye condition that causes a "hole in the center" when looking at things. It is caused by damage to the central retina (sensing layer of the eye). Causes include aging, smoking, and genetics.
Typical Symptoms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Difficulty seeing due to poor color or light contrast
- Difficulty seeing on one side
- Partial loss of vision
- Changes in color perception
- Things appear darker or dimmer than before
- Vision problems
- Need to scrunch eyes to look at faraway objects
- Distortion in my vision
Diagnostic Questions for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Is it hard for you to distinguish subtle differences in color intensity or brightness?
- Are you currently experiencing vision loss in one eye?
- Have you experienced partial loss of vision?
- Have you experienced any changes in your color perception?
- Do things appear darker or dimmer to you than before?
Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
There are several treatment options, depending on the type of degeneration. These include injections given directly into the eye or shining strong lights into the back of the eye to destroy abnormal cells. There may be no treatment for certain types of this condition.
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Kenji Taylor, MD
Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center
Reviewed By:
Ami Shah Vira, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Shah Vira grew up in Arizona. She moved to Chicago to complete a combined engineering and medical program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Chicago Medical School. She completed a highly competitive two year dual fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology and Oculoplastic at the highly regarded Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Shah Vira specializes in surgical correction of the eyelids and eyebrows, eyelid malposition and tumors, excessive tearing, and conditions involving the orbit.
Masashi Mimura, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Mimura Graduated from the Osaka Medical College and obtained his ophthalmologist certification in 2007. He opened an outpatient clinic for oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at Osaka Kaijo Hospital. Subsequently, he was appointed as the assistant professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, in 2014. He then served an international fellowship at the Department of Ophthalmology/Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, California State University, San Diego. Since then, he has been appointed as Lecturer in the Departments of Ophthalmology at Osaka Medical College and Toho University Medical Center Sakura Hospital. Dr. Mimura is currently the Director of Oculofacial Clinic Osaka, where he specializes in Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
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- Loss of visual field
- Spots where vision is blocked or disturbed
- Need bright light to see well
- Constantly bumping into things
- Tunnel vision
- Blurred vision
- Peripheral vision loss
- Wavy shimmering lines in vision
- Temporary loss of vision and dizziness
- Temporary loss of vision in one eye
- Difficulty seeing certain colors
See full list
Symptoms Related to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Diseases Related to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
FAQs
Q.
What Is Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) ?
A.
Neovascular AMD, also called wet AMD, is a type of eye disease that happens when new, abnormal blood vessels grow under the part of your eye that helps you see fine details.
References:
Pugazhendhi A, Hubbell M, Jairam P, Ambati B. Neovascular Macular Degeneration: A Review of Etiology, Risk Factors, and Recent Advances in Research and Therapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 25;22(3):1170. doi: 10.3390/ijms22031170. PMID: 33504013; PMCID: PMC7866170.
Ricci F, Bandello F, Navarra P, Staurenghi G, Stumpp M, Zarbin M. Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Therapeutic Management and New-Upcoming Approaches. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Nov 3;21(21):8242. doi: 10.3390/ijms21218242. PMID: 33153227; PMCID: PMC7662479.
Shao J, Choudhary MM, Schachat AP. Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Dev Ophthalmol. 2016;55:125-36. doi: 10.1159/000438969. Epub 2015 Oct 26. PMID: 26501146.
Q.
What Is Nonexudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
A.
Nonexudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), often called “dry AMD,” is a slow, progressive disease that affects the center of the retina called the macula, leading to gradual loss of vision. It is the most common form of AMD and involves the build-up of small deposits called drusen.
References:
Yonekawa Y, Kim IK. Clinical characteristics and current treatment of age-related macular degeneration. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2014 Oct 3;5(1):a017178. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a017178. PMID: 25280900; PMCID: PMC4292078.
Schwartz R, Chakravarthy U. Nonexudative macular neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration: Debate remains about its clinical relevance. Retinal Physician. 2021 Jun;18(6):32-36.
Fernandes AR, Zielińska A, Sanchez-Lopez E, Dos Santos T, Garcia ML, Silva AM, Karczewski J, Souto EB. Exudative versus Nonexudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Physiopathology and Treatment Options. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Feb 26;23(5):2592. doi: 10.3390/ijms23052592. PMID: 35269743; PMCID: PMC8910030.
Q.
How Can I Prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) ?
A.
You can lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by living a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, avoiding smoking, and protecting your eyes from too much sunlight. For those with early changes, antioxidant vitamins and minerals may help slow the disease’s progression.
References:
Singh N, Srinivasan S, Muralidharan V, Roy R, V J, Raman R. Prevention of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2017 Nov-Dec;6(6):520-526. doi: 10.22608/APO.2017416. PMID: 29204995.
Evans JR, Lawrenson JG. Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jul 31;7(7):CD000254. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000254.pub4. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Sep 13;9:CD000254. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000254.pub5. PMID: 28756618; PMCID: PMC6483465.
Rein DB, Wittenborn JS, Burke-Conte Z, Gulia R, Robalik T, Ehrlich JR, Lundeen EA, Flaxman AD. Prevalence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the US in 2019. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022 Dec 1;140(12):1202-1208. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.4401. PMID: 36326752; PMCID: PMC9634594.
Evans JR, Lawrenson JG. Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Sep 13;9(9):CD000254. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000254.pub5. PMID: 37702300; PMCID: PMC10498493.
Q.
What Is Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
A.
Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a serious eye condition that causes rapid vision loss in the center of your sight due to leaky blood vessels growing under the central part of the retina.
References:
Hobbs SD, Tripathy K, Pierce K. Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). 2024 Aug 11. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan–. PMID: 34283513.
Q.
What Are The Two Forms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
A.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) comes in two forms: dry AMD and wet AMD. Dry AMD is the more common form and progresses slowly, while wet AMD is less common but can cause faster vision loss.
References:
Thomas CJ, Mirza RG, Gill MK. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Med Clin North Am. 2021 May;105(3):473-491. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2021.01.003. Epub 2021 Apr 2. PMID: 33926642.
Deng Y, Qiao L, Du M, Qu C, Wan L, Li J, Huang L. Age-related macular degeneration: Epidemiology, genetics, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and targeted therapy. _Genes Dis._ 2021 Feb 27;9(1):62-79. doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2021.02.009. PMID: 35005108; PMCID: PMC8720701.
Pugazhendhi A, Hubbell M, Jairam P, Ambati B. Neovascular Macular Degeneration: A Review of Etiology, Risk Factors, and Recent Advances in Research and Therapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 25;22(3):1170. doi: 10.3390/ijms22031170. PMID: 33504013; PMCID: PMC7866170.
Fritsche LG, Igl W, Bailey JN, Grassmann F, Sengupta S et.al. A large genome-wide association study of age-related macular degeneration highlights contributions of rare and common variants. Nat Genet. 2016 Feb;48(2):134-43. doi: 10.1038/ng.3448. Epub 2015 Dec 21. PMID: 26691988; PMCID: PMC4745342.
Q.
How Common Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
A.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition in older adults. Studies show that many millions of Americans, especially those over 60, are affected by AMD.
References:
Rein DB, Wittenborn JS, Burke-Conte Z, Gulia R, Robalik T, Ehrlich JR, Lundeen EA, Flaxman AD. Prevalence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the US in 2019. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022 Dec 1;140(12):1202-1208. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.4401. PMID: 36326752; PMCID: PMC9634594.
Fleckenstein M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Chakravarthy U. Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Review. JAMA. 2024 Jan 9;331(2):147-157. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.26074. PMID: 38193957.
Q.
When Does Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Start?
A.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) mainly begins in older adults, with early signs typically emerging after the age of 50. As people get older, the risk of developing AMD increases.
References:
Pugazhendhi A, Hubbell M, Jairam P, Ambati B. Neovascular Macular Degeneration: A Review of Etiology, Risk Factors, and Recent Advances in Research and Therapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 25;22(3):1170. doi: 10.3390/ijms22031170. PMID: 33504013; PMCID: PMC7866170.
Ricci F, Bandello F, Navarra P, Staurenghi G, Stumpp M, Zarbin M. Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Therapeutic Management and New-Upcoming Approaches. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Nov 3;21(21):8242. doi: 10.3390/ijms21218242. PMID: 33153227; PMCID: PMC7662479.
Shao J, Choudhary MM, Schachat AP. Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Dev Ophthalmol. 2016;55:125-36. doi: 10.1159/000438969. Epub 2015 Oct 26. PMID: 26501146.
Q.
What Are the Side Effects of Izervay?
A.
Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) can sometimes cause eye pain, redness, or inflammation after an injection, and these side effects are usually temporary. It is important to follow your doctor's care and report any unusual eye symptoms.
References:
Khanani AM, Patel SS, Staurenghi G, Tadayoni R, Danzig CJ, Eichenbaum DA, Hsu J, Wykoff CC, Heier JS, Lally DR, Monés J, Nielsen JS, Sheth VS, Kaiser PK, Clark J, Zhu L, Patel H, Tang J, Desai D, Jaffe GJ; GATHER2 trial investigators. Efficacy and safety of avacincaptad pegol in patients with geographic atrophy (GATHER2): 12-month results from a randomised, double-masked, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2023 Oct 21;402(10411):1449-1458. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01583-0. Epub 2023 Sep 8. PMID: 37696275.
Shakeel L, Khan A, Akilimali A. "Izervay (avacincaptad pegol): paving the way for vision preservation in geographic atrophy". Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2024 Apr 3;86(5):2413-2416. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000002021. PMID: 38694318; PMCID: PMC11060312.
Q.
What Is Izervay Used For?
A.
Izervay is used to slow the progression of geographic atrophy due to age-related macular degeneration.
References:
Jaffe GJ, Westby K, Csaky KG, Monés J, Pearlman JA, Patel SS, Joondeph BC, Randolph J, Masonson H, Rezaei KA. C5 Inhibitor Avacincaptad Pegol for Geographic Atrophy Due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Randomized Pivotal Phase 2/3 Trial. Ophthalmology. 2021 Apr;128(4):576-586. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.08.027. Epub 2020 Sep 1. PMID: 32882310.
Danzig CJ, Khanani AM, Loewenstein A. C5 inhibitor avacincaptad pegol treatment for geographic atrophy: A comprehensive review. Immunotherapy. 2024;16(12):779-790. doi: 10.1080/1750743X.2024.2368342. Epub 2024 Jul 29. PMID: 39073397; PMCID: PMC11457614.
Q.
Does Izervay Work Immediately?
A.
Izervay is not designed to work immediately. It is intended to slow the progression of vision loss in geographic atrophy over time.
References:
Khanani AM, Patel SS, Staurenghi G, Tadayoni R, Danzig CJ, Eichenbaum DA, Hsu J, Wykoff CC, Heier JS, Lally DR, Monés J, Nielsen JS, Sheth VS, Kaiser PK, Clark J, Zhu L, Patel H, Tang J, Desai D, Jaffe GJ; GATHER2 trial investigators. Efficacy and safety of avacincaptad pegol in patients with geographic atrophy (GATHER2): 12-month results from a randomised, double-masked, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2023 Oct 21;402(10411):1449-1458. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01583-0. Epub 2023 Sep 8. PMID: 37696275.
Shakeel L, Khan A, Akilimali A. "Izervay (avacincaptad pegol): paving the way for vision preservation in geographic atrophy". Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2024 Apr 3;86(5):2413-2416. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000002021. PMID: 38694318; PMCID: PMC11060312.
Q.
How Much Does Izervay Cost?
A.
The cost of Izervay can vary depending on factors like dosage, location, and insurance, and the available literature does not provide a specific price.
References:
Shakeel L, Khan A, Akilimali A. "Izervay (avacincaptad pegol): paving the way for vision preservation in geographic atrophy". Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2024 Apr 3;86(5):2413-2416. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000002021. PMID: 38694318; PMCID: PMC11060312.
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Mitchell P, Liew G, Gopinath B, Wong TY (2020). Age-related macular degeneration. Lancet (London, England).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30303083/Guymer RH, Campbell TG (2021). Age-related macular degeneration. Lancet (London, England).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36996856/Keenan TDL, Cukras CA, Chew EY (2021). Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Epidemiology and Clinical Aspects. Advances in experimental medicine and biology.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33847996/