Macular degeneration related to aging is an eye condition that typically begins after age 60 and can progressively damage the central part of the retina, known as the macula, thereby affecting vision. Although age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD) seldom leads to complete blindness because it impacts only the central vision, damage to the macula can hinder clear straight-ahead sight, complicating tasks like reading, driving, and other activities that require precise central vision.The macula, located at the center of the retina at the back of the eye, plays a crucial role in central vision. As one reads, light is focused onto the macula, where millions of cells convert the light into nerve signals sent to the brain, helping us understand what we see. This sharp, central vision allows us to perform activities requiring clear, focused sight.There are two forms of AMD: the more common dry type and the less prevalent wet type. Neither causes pain. In wet AMD, an early indication might be that straight lines seem wavy due to fluid leaking from blood vessels beneath the macula, causing it to lift from its usual position and distort vision. Wet AMD can also lead to a swift decline in central vision, unlike dry AMD, where vision loss is gradual. An advanced stage of dry AMD, known as geographic atrophy, results in a gradual and irreversible deterioration of visual function. This stage causes well-defined atrophic areas in the outer retina, due to the loss of photoreceptors, retinal pigment, and choriocapillaris, and is also referred to as atrophic age-related macular degeneration. In both forms of AMD, a blind spot may appear. Any changes in vision should prompt a visit to an ophthalmologist immediately.Supplements, including antioxidants, have been shown to slow the progression of dry AMD. In individuals with intermediate dry AMD, zinc lowered the risk of advancing to a more severe stage by 11%, while antioxidants reduced the risk by 10%. Combined, these supplements decreased the risk by 19%. The study used daily doses of 500 milligrams of vitamin C, 400 milligrams of vitamin E, and 15 milligrams of beta-carotene (which the body converts to vitamin A). Zinc was taken at 80 milligrams daily, with an additional 2 milligrams of copper to avoid deficiency sometimes linked to high zinc levels. These doses exceed the standard recommendations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
