Does Dry AMD Always Turn into Wet AMD?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a primary cause of vision loss. Most people have dry AMD, which means you’re at risk of it turning into more severe wet AMD.  Although not all people with dry AMD end up with wet AMD, all people with wet AMD start out with dry AMD. Treating the dry version is the best way to help lower your risk of developing the wet version.

At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, our eye health specialists can determine if you have dry or wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and recommend a treatment plan. In honor of AMD awareness month, here’s what you need to know about dry and wet AMD.

Dry AMD

Dry AMD is the breakdown of parts of the macula, an area of the retina responsible for central vision. This condition is more common in people aged 50 years and up but can occur in younger people.

Symptoms of dry AMD include:

• Blurry or blind spots in your central field of vision
• Distorted vision (kines may seem to be bent or wavy)
• Reduced  or darkened central vision in one or both eyes
• Bright light is required for reading or close-up work
• Trouble with changing to low light levels, like entering a dimly lit restaurant 
• Blurriness of printed words, getting worse over time
• Difficulty with recognizing even very familiar faces
• A well-defined blurry spot or blind spot in the field of vision.

Roughly 80% of people with AMD have the dry form, but in about one out of five patients, dry AMD can turn into wet AMD, which is more serious. The current treatment for dry AMD is eye injections to slow the atrophy of the macula and prevent dry AMD from turning into wet AMD.

Wet AMD

Wet AMD always starts out as dry AMD. Over time, the blood vessels leak blood and fluid into the eye, worsening the AMD symptoms. Over time, wet AMD can cause complete loss of central vision. While side vision isn’t as affected, it may become distorted; however, AMD rarely causes total blindness.

The symptoms of wet AMD are the same as those of dry AMD, but they progress more rapidly. Treatment for wet AMD won’t provide a cure, but injections and laser surgery can help seal blood vessels, reducing leakage into and pressure within your eye.

For more information on macular degeneration or to request a screening for AMD, schedule a consultation by calling 805-388-1211 or visit our contact page for more options.