Macular Degeneration Progression

by Minerva
(United States)

Hi Leslie,

My mother developed AMD in both eyes.

She has been putting shots on them which have made a little improvement.

My question is: I do have a little bit of it, diagnosed 20 years ago. It has been stable for this long, is there a way I can prevent from MD completely? I am 57 y o and look forward to have some kind of treatment to get it better now that im still on time.

I have suscribed to your enews, which have been of great help in learning more about this disease and helping my mother go through this. Thank you for your time on this. :D

Reply

Hi Minerva,

Thank you for taking the time to email me. I applaud you for trying now to prevent macular degeneration from progressing. This degenerative eye disease is very responsive to diet and nutrition but indeed has a very strong genetic component.

To learn more about what you can do to help your eyes I suggest you read some of the recommended books on macular degeneration. Here are some that I recommend:

Macular Degeneration Resource Books

You can also learn more by going to:

Macular Degeneration Prevention

Kind Regards,

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Macular Degeneration Prognosis

by Archie
(United Kingdom)

My wife of 48 was diagnosed with macular degeneration last year. As the opthamologist said she had soft drusen in both eyes. Her sight is good just now. When will she begin to lose her sight? Thanks.

Archie

Reply

Hi Archie,

Drusen can be one of the earliest symptoms of macular degeneration. What are they and what does that mean for your wife's vision?

Macular drusen are small yellow or white deposits of lipid (a fatty compound)and calcium that build up in the Bruch's membrane of the eye.

There are two different kinds of macular drusen - hard and soft. The soft form are more often associated with loss of vision.

How fast one's macular degeneration will progress is a major concern for most people diagnosed with this macular degenerative disease. One person may experience a different rate of progression in their right eye compared to their left eye.

To learn more about macular degeneration prognosis and to read what other's have shared about their progression of this degenerative eye disease click here:


Macular Degeneration Prognosis

This page will also give you things you can do to try to slow or delay the progression of age related macular degeneration.
Take Care,

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Dry Age Related Macular Degeneration Prognosis

by Charles
(Johnson City, Tennessee)

I am 73 years old and after a recent visit to my eye doctor I was told I have dry age related macular degeneration. I am trying to learn more about this eye condition.

What I want to know is if it will turn into wet
age related macular degeneration? Thanks for your help.

REPLY

Hi Charles,

Thanks for your question. I am glad to hear that you are learning more about your eye condition. There is lots of valuable information on this website on what you can do with your lifestyle and diet to promote the health of your eyes.

Almost 85-90% of those with macular degeneration have the dry form. The progression of dry macular degeneration is usually slow and and may take years for it to worsen.

There are many factors that play into the progression of AMD and you can read about them here:

Macular Degeneration Prognosis

Kind Regards,

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN
Better Health for Better Vision

Dry Macular Degeneration Prognosis by Liz

I have been diagnosed by a doctor as having dry macular disease in the right eye - he told me not to worry and that i probably would not go blind ( I am 58 yrs of age & when I look at the grid with this eye the lines on the left distort )

I cannot say that this doctor has reassured me but he did not seem very alarmed by my condition - should I expect further deterioration?

P.S. 2 of my elderly aunts when blind in later life - a little advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

REPLY

Hi Liz,

Thanks for your e-mail and for sharing your concern about your new diagnosis of dry macular degeneration.

The majority of those with dry macular degeneration do not develop the wet form which causes more severe vision loss. However, no one knows nor can they identify which patients will develop wet AMD.

To learn more about the prognosis of macular degeneration click here:

Macular Degeneration Prognosis

To learn more about what steps to take to delay the progression of this disease click here:

Dry Macular Degeneration Treatment

Kind Regards,

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Dry Macular Degeneration Prognosis

by Mike
(Springfield, MA)

Is the reason that dry AMD doesn't always progress to geographic atrophy (and severe loss) due to the fact that in most instances the progression takes longer than the (mostly older) population lives?

Since I'm only 45 and have intermediate AMD, I'm hoping that's not the case and the nature of the disease is that most just don't progress. I'm not sure if my question makes sense, but I hope you can answer.

Thanks for your help with this question and the other information you provide on this site. Very helpful!

REPLY

Yes, Mike, it is true that many people with dry macular degeneration do not progress to severe vision loss due to geographic atrophy or progress to wet macular degeneration.

But you are quite young for age related macular degeneration (AMD). Progression of this retinal disease is different with each person and with each eye.

Although there are no guarantees it is important that you follow a macular degeneration diet and take macular degeneration vitamins. Do as much as you can to delay or slow the progression.

Kind Regards,

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN