Age related macular degeneration, usually shortened to AMD, is an eye disease that damages the macula, the small center of the retina that gives you sharp, straight ahead vision. It has two forms. Dry AMD is the common form and moves slowly through early, intermediate, and late stages; wet AMD is a late stage form that can take central vision faster. Both are found during a dilated eye exam, and early AMD causes no symptoms, which is why regular exams matter once you are past 55.
Macular Degeneration at a Glance
- What it affects: the macula, the center of the retina, and with it the central vision used for reading, driving, and recognizing faces.
- Two forms: dry, also called atrophic, and wet, also called neovascular.
- Stages of dry AMD: early, intermediate, and late.
- Early symptoms: none. Later symptoms: a blurry or wavy area in the center of your vision, straight lines that look crooked, colors that seem less bright, and more trouble seeing in low light.
- Who is more likely to have it: people age 55 and older. Risk also rises with a family history of AMD and with smoking.
- How it is found: a dilated eye exam, often with optical coherence tomography (OCT), an imaging test that photographs the layers of the retina.
- What we do at our Westerville office: diagnose AMD, stage it, monitor it over time, and coordinate a referral to a retina specialist when the wet form needs treatment.
What the Macula Does, and What AMD Changes
The macula controls the sharp central vision you use to read a page, see a face, or watch the road ahead. It is a small area at the center of the retina, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. When AMD damages the macula, the center of whatever you look at blurs or distorts while your side vision usually stays. That is why a person with AMD can have real trouble reading or recognizing a friend across a table and still move around a room without difficulty.
AMD moves at different speeds in different people. In some it changes very slowly over many years; in others it moves faster. A person with early AMD may notice no change in vision for a long time, so the diagnosis is usually made at an eye exam rather than from a symptom.
Dry Macular Degeneration
Dry AMD is the form most people with macular degeneration have. The macula thins with age, and small deposits of fatty protein called drusen collect under the retina. The American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that about four in five people with AMD have the dry, or atrophic, form.
Dry AMD is described in three stages. Early dry AMD causes no symptoms at all. In intermediate dry AMD, some people still notice nothing, while others see mild blurriness in the center of their vision or have trouble in dim light. In late dry AMD, a blurry area forms near the center of vision and can grow over time, and blank spots may appear. Dry AMD usually progresses slowly over several years, and any stage of dry AMD can turn into wet AMD.
Wet Macular Degeneration
Wet AMD is the less common form, and it is always late stage. Abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina at the back of the eye, leak fluid or blood, and damage the macula. Vision loss from wet AMD is usually faster than from dry AMD, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that the wet, or neovascular, form accounts for most of the severe vision loss linked to AMD.
Wet AMD has treatment. The first line treatment is a medicine injected into the eye, known as an anti VEGF drug, which is given by a retina specialist; finding active wet AMD early and treating it promptly leads to better vision outcomes. We do not give these injections at our office. When an exam here finds wet AMD, or a change that suggests it, we coordinate the referral to a retina specialist and continue to care for the rest of your eye health in Westerville.
Symptoms, and Why Early AMD Has None
The symptoms of AMD depend on its stage, and AMD is progressive, so symptoms tend to get worse over time. Early dry AMD causes no symptoms. Intermediate dry AMD may cause none, or mild central blurriness and trouble seeing in low light. In late AMD of either form, many people notice that straight lines, such as door frames, tile edges, or lines of print, start to look wavy or crooked. A blurry area may appear near the center of vision and grow, blank spots may develop, and colors can look less bright than they used to.
Straight lines that look wavy are a warning sign of late AMD. If you notice that change, call us right away rather than waiting for your next scheduled exam.
Who Is at Risk for Macular Degeneration
Age is the main risk factor. People age 55 and older are more likely to have AMD, and the risk keeps rising with age. The National Eye Institute lists a family history of AMD, being Caucasian, and smoking as factors that raise the risk further. The American Academy of Ophthalmology identifies cigarette smoking as the main risk factor a person can change and strongly recommends that people who have AMD, or are at risk for it, stop smoking. The Academy does not currently recommend routine genetic testing for AMD, and for patients whose physician has prescribed long term aspirin, its guidance is to continue the aspirin as prescribed.
You may be able to lower your risk, or slow vision loss from AMD, with everyday choices the National Eye Institute lists: quitting smoking or never starting, regular physical activity, keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in a healthy range, and eating healthy foods, including leafy green vegetables and fish. The Academy also notes that a Mediterranean style diet is associated with a lower risk of developing AMD and of existing AMD getting worse. None of these choices replaces an eye exam, because early AMD has no symptoms to watch for.
How Macular Degeneration Is Diagnosed at Our Westerville Office
A dilated eye exam finds AMD. Drops widen the pupil so your eye doctor can examine the retina and the macula directly, and the exam can show AMD and other eye conditions before you notice any change. Your doctor may also order optical coherence tomography, or OCT, which takes detailed pictures of the layers of the retina; OCT helps show the stage of AMD and whether fluid is present, which is one of the signs that separates the wet form from the dry.
Ophthalmologists and optometrists see patients in the same building at Comprehensive EyeCare of Central Ohio, so a routine exam that finds early changes in the macula and the medical follow up that comes next happen in one place. Dilating drops can cause temporary blurred vision and light sensitivity that may affect driving, so plan a ride home and bring sunglasses.
Monitoring, Supplements, and When a Retina Specialist Is Involved
How AMD is managed depends on its stage and form. There is no evidence based treatment for early AMD, so your eye doctor keeps track of it with regular dilated exams; the National Eye Institute suggests at least one dilated exam a year for a person with early AMD, and your doctor sets the interval that fits your eyes.
For intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, or late AMD in one eye, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says a specific formula of antioxidant vitamins and minerals, studied in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 and sold as AREDS 2 supplements, should be considered. The National Eye Institute, which ran the study, reports that these supplements may slow progression from intermediate to late AMD and may slow AMD in the other eye when one eye already has late disease. They do not prevent early AMD from becoming intermediate, and there is no evidence that they help people with less than intermediate AMD or family members without signs of the disease. People who smoke or used to smoke should use the AREDS 2 formula rather than the older AREDS formula, which contains beta carotene. Talk with your doctor before starting any supplement, since these formulas contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals and can interact with other medicines.
Between visits, the Amsler grid is a simple home check for the center of your vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises using it once a day, every day: wearing your reading glasses, hold the grid 12 to 15 inches away in good light, cover one eye, look at the center dot, and notice whether any lines look blurry, wavy, dark, or blank, then repeat with the other eye. You can print the Amsler grid our office provides and keep it where you will see it each day. If any area of the grid changes, contact us right away.
Wet AMD is treated by a retina specialist. Anti VEGF injections are the first line treatment, and some patients are offered photodynamic therapy, which combines an injected drug with a laser. We coordinate that referral and keep seeing you here for cataract care, glaucoma care, glasses, and routine exams. For late dry AMD, the retina specialist discusses the options that apply to your eyes. When AMD has advanced in both eyes, low vision services and vision rehabilitation help people keep doing everyday tasks with the sight they have.
Symptoms That Need Same Day Care
Call us right away at 614-890-5692 if you notice any of the following. During evening or weekend hours, a call to the same number reaches a physician on call. If you cannot reach us, go to an emergency department.
- Straight lines that suddenly look wavy, crooked, or broken, or a new blurry or blank spot in the center of your vision.
- Any new change on your Amsler grid: an area that looks darker, wavy, blank, or blurry.
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, even if it comes back after a few seconds.
- A shadow or gray curtain over part of your vision, a sudden burst of new floaters, or flashes of light.
- Sudden blurred vision with eye pain, especially if the eye is also red.
- Double vision, even if it is temporary.
These symptoms are not all caused by AMD, but each one needs an examination the same day.
Questions Patients Ask About Macular Degeneration
What is the difference between dry and wet macular degeneration?
Dry AMD is the thinning of the macula with age, with drusen deposits under the retina, and it moves slowly through early, intermediate, and late stages. Wet AMD is a late stage form in which abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak, and it usually causes faster vision loss. Any stage of dry AMD can turn into wet AMD, and wet AMD has injection treatment while early AMD is monitored.
Does dry macular degeneration always turn into wet?
No. Not everyone with AMD develops late AMD, and not everyone develops it in both eyes. Any stage of dry AMD can become wet AMD, which is why monitoring matters, but many people with dry AMD never develop the wet form.
How often should someone with macular degeneration have an eye exam?
At least once a year for early AMD, according to the National Eye Institute, and your eye doctor sets the interval for your eyes based on the stage and whether one eye already has late disease. Between visits, a daily Amsler grid check catches changes that are not obvious day to day.
Do AREDS 2 supplements prevent macular degeneration?
No. AREDS 2 supplements do not prevent AMD from starting and do not keep early AMD from becoming intermediate. The evidence supports them for intermediate AMD, or late AMD in one eye, where they may slow progression. Ask your eye doctor whether they apply to your stage before starting them.
Who treats wet macular degeneration?
A retina specialist treats wet AMD, usually with anti VEGF injections. Our office diagnoses and monitors AMD, coordinates the referral when wet AMD is found, and continues your other eye care in Westerville while the retina specialist manages the injections.
Is macular degeneration the same as a cataract?
No. A cataract is a clouding of the lens at the front of the eye and can be removed with surgery; macular degeneration is damage to the macula at the back of the eye. Both are common after 55 and both can blur vision, so a dilated exam is what tells them apart, and a person can have both at the same time.
Schedule a Dilated Eye Exam in Westerville
If you are 55 or older, have a family history of AMD, or have noticed a change in the center of your vision, call 614-890-5692 or send us a message through our contact form to schedule a dilated eye exam. Comprehensive EyeCare of Central Ohio has served central Ohio since 1975 from 450 Alkyre Run Drive, Suite 100, Westerville, Ohio 43082, and sees patients from Westerville, the greater Columbus area, Worthington, Sunbury, and Lewis Center. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Saturday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Keep Reading
- How we diagnose and monitor macular degeneration in Columbus and Westerville, and how a referral to a retina specialist works.
- About Steven H. Suh, MD, Director of Cataract Surgery, who reviewed this page.
- Our appointment and office information, including what to bring and what to expect from dilation.
Sources
- National Eye Institute, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), last updated June 22, 2021, https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration, accessed 10/20/2026.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, Age-Related Macular Degeneration Preferred Practice Pattern, 2024 edition updated 2026, https://www.aao.org/education/preferred-practice-pattern/age-related-macular-degeneration-ppp, accessed 10/20/2026.
- National Eye Institute, AREDS 2 Supplements for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), last updated June 22, 2021, https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration/nutritional-supplements-age-related-macular-degeneration, accessed 10/20/2026.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, All About the Amsler Grid and Daily Vision Checks for AMD, reviewed by Robert H. Janigian, Jr., MD, published December 19, 2025, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/facts-about-amsler-grid-daily-vision-test, accessed 10/20/2026.
- MedlinePlus, Vision problems, review date August 5, 2024, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003029.htm, accessed 10/20/2026.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, Detached Retina, reviewed by Veena R. Raiji, MD, published December 4, 2025, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/detached-torn-retina, accessed 10/20/2026.
Medically reviewed by Steven H. Suh, MD, Director of Cataract Surgery. Reviewed October 30, 2026.
