Macular Degeneration

Symptoms

Symptoms of this disease usually develop gradually and painlessly, and vary depending on the form of macular degeneration. Almost all cases of macular degeneration start as the dry form, which is also the most common form. In 15 percent of cases, the disease advances to the wet form, often causing rapid vision loss. When symptoms begin to appear, it is critical to be evaluated immediately. Mayo Clinic ophthalmologists are expert in diagnosing both forms of macular degeneration, and will work to implement a treatment plan to preserve as much vision as possible.

The first warning sign may be a need for more light to do close-up work, like reading. Adapting to lower light, like in a dimly lit restaurant, may also be increasingly difficult.

Other symptoms to look for in dry macular degeneration are:

• Printed words appear increasingly blurry
• Colors appear less bright
• Recognizing faces becomes more difficult
• Overall vision becomes increasingly hazy
• A blurred or blind spot in the center of vision appears, and the sharpness of central vision decreases dramatically
• Scanning eyes all around an object becomes necessary to provide a more complete image

With wet macular degeneration, the following symptoms may progress rapidly:

• Vision becomes distorted — straight lines appear wavy or crooked, objects appear farther away than they are
• Central vision is decreased or lost
• A blurry spot appears in the center of vision

In either form, the vision in one eye may falter, while the other eye remains normal. In fact, many people do not notice the gradual changes in their vision, because the unaffected eye compensates for the diseased one. It is when the condition develops in both eyes that a person's vision and lifestyle begin to change dramatically.

It is important to note that macular degeneration does not usually lead to complete blindness. Even patients who are "blind" from macular degeneration have good side vision, which they typically learn to use very efficiently helping them preserve their independence.