Living With Wet vs. Dry Macular Degeneration: What’s Different?
There are two types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD): wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration. Both types affect a part of the eye called the macula, the central part of the retina that allows for sharp, detailed vision. Nearly 20 million people in the United States are affected by AMD, which is the leading cause of legal blindness.
Wet vs. Dry Macular Degeneration: How Are They Different?
Dry age-related macular degeneration causes gradual thinning of the macula. This is caused by drusen (small yellow deposits of protein and fat) building up under the retina, resulting in damage to the macula. Accounting for 90% of age-related macular degeneration cases, dry AMD progresses slowly, typically with gradual blurring of central vision (straight-ahead sight that allows one to drive, read, recognize faces, and more).
People with dry AMD may notice a range of symptoms that worsen over time, including:
- Blurred or reduced central vision
- The need for brighter lighting
- Difficulty recognizing faces or reading
- Slow worsening of vision
Dry AMD usually progresses gradually, over years. Geographic atrophy (GA) — a late-stage, irreversible form of dry AMD that causes permanent central vision loss due to the destruction of retinal cells — is the most advanced form of the disease. Dry AMD can also progress to wet AMD, in some cases quite suddenly.
Wet age-related macular degeneration, meanwhile, progresses rapidly. Wet AMD is caused by the growth of abnormal blood cells that leak fluid under the retina, which results in swelling and bleeding. Accounting for 10% of AMD cases, wet macular degeneration always affects central vision.
Progressing rapidly, over days or weeks, wet AMD can cause the following symptoms:
- Sudden vision loss
- Seeing straight lines, such as door frames, as bent or wavy
- Seeing dark or “empty” spots in one’s vision
- Everyday tasks like reading, driving, and facial recognition becoming challenging
- Rapid deterioration of vision
Treatment Options for Wet and Dry Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration can be very challenging to live with, but there are various treatment options for both types.
While there is currently no cure for dry age-related macular degeneration, its progression can often be significantly slowed with:
- Nutritional supplements and vitamins
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Quitting smoking
- Low-vision rehabilitation
- Intravitreal injections for geographic atrophy
As with dry AMD, wet age-related macular degeneration is currently not curable, but there are effective treatments available that can greatly slow vision loss. These treatments include:
- Anti-VEGF injections, which help control the growth of blood cells in the eyes
- Steroid Intravitreal Injections, often used in combination with anti-VEGF injections
- Laser surgery to seal leaking blood vessels
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) or photocoagulation therapy to seal leaking blood vessels
Whether you’re suffering from wet or dry macular degeneration, it’s critical to maintain regular monitoring and check-ins with your doctor. In about 10–20% of cases, dry AMD progresses to wet AMD, making frequent appointments critical to early detection and treatment.
Learn More About Wet and Dry Macular Degeneration
Both wet and dry age-related macular degeneration can be difficult to live with, but many treatment options are available to help slow its progression and provide a better quality of life. At Associated Vitreoretinal and Uveitis Consultants, our expert team of retina specialists has years of experience helping patients with both dry and wet AMD.
To learn more about age-related macular degeneration and set up a consultation, get in touch today.
