Eye condition

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

AMD affects the macula – the point of sharpest vision at the centre of the retina. Reading, recognising faces and seeing detail suffer, while peripheral vision is usually preserved. A distinction is made between a dry (slow) and a wet (rapidly progressing) form.

Schematic illustration for explanation – medical approval required.

Dry AMD

The more common form. Metabolic residues – known as drusen – are deposited beneath the retina, and cells are slowly lost. Deterioration of vision is usually slow. Regular check-ups are important so that a transition to the wet form does not go unnoticed.

Wet AMD

Fluid or blood escapes beneath or into the retina. Vision often deteriorates rapidly, and distorted vision and a dark patch are possible. Early treatment is particularly important here.

Important examinations

Retinal examination to detect drusen, bleeding and other changes. Macular OCT as a high-resolution cross-sectional image – detects fluid and early changes. The Amsler test as a recommended self-test at home. Particularly in wet AMD, OCT monitoring is especially important.

The Amsler test for self-monitoring

With reading glasses, in good light and at your normal reading distance: cover one eye, direct the other at the dot in the centre of the grid and check whether all the lines appear straight and unbroken. Then repeat with the other eye. If lines look wavy, distorted or interrupted, please contact an ophthalmologist.

What you can do yourself

Use the Amsler test regularly at home, attend your check-ups at the practice, do not smoke, keep active – this supports general vascular health – and eat a balanced diet, for example green vegetables and fish. In suitable cases of dry AMD, AREDS2 nutrients may be useful on medical advice.

Treatment

Dry AMD: check-ups, lifestyle and, where recommended, AREDS2 supplements. Wet AMD: intravitreal injections into the eye with the aim of reducing fluid and stabilising vision – together with regular monitoring. Injection treatments take place exclusively at the Stadtmitte location.

Typical symptoms

Distorted vision – straight lines such as door frames or tile joints appear wavy
A grey, blurred or dark patch at the centre of vision
Reading becomes increasingly difficult despite suitable glasses, more light is needed
Colours appear duller, faces blur in the middle

Many people do not notice early changes – the second eye compensates for the loss for a long time. AMD often only becomes apparent once the centre of vision is clearly affected.

How we examine

Retinal examination with dilated pupils, OCT (shows the macular layers in cross-section and makes fluid visible), fundus photography to document progression and – if new vessel growth is suspected – fluorescein angiography.

How we treat

We treat wet AMD with anti-VEGF injections into the eye at our macula centre – exclusively at the Stadtmitte location. In the dry form, regular monitoring, risk reduction and advice are the priority.

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When you should act quickly

Newly occurring distorted vision, a new patch in the centre of the image or a sudden deterioration in reading: please have this assessed within a few days – in wet AMD, timing determines the outcome.