{"id":91596460437,"date":"2020-09-29T14:26:51","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T12:26:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.augenarzt-banyai.de\/?page_id=91596460437"},"modified":"2026-06-30T11:25:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T09:25:08","slug":"macular-degeneration","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.augenarzt-banyai.de\/en\/eye-diseases\/macular-degeneration\/","title":{"rendered":"Macular degeneration (ophthalmology)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What exactly is age-related macular degeneration?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

In the disease of age-related macular degeneration (AMD for short), the most common cause of severe visual impairment in people over the age of 60. In Germany alone, over four million people are affected by age-related macular degeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AMD or macular degeneration is often also referred to as ARMD. The abbreviation is derived from the full English term of the disease “Age Related Macular Degeneration”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the disease macular degeneration (AMD), the macula, the center of vision (macula, “yellow spot”) is affected as the site of the sharpest vision. Small whitish or yellow deposits form under the retina of the macula, the so-called drusen. This destroys visual cells in the middle of the retina, which enable sharp and coloured vision in macular degeneration. Central visual acuity decreases. In the later stage of the disease, a bright, gray or black spot appears in the middle of the visual field, which becomes larger and larger over time. If left untreated, there can be a sharp decrease in vision and a severe visual impairment – a total loss of vision – so complete blindness does not usually occur with AMD, as peripheral vision is still preserved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A distinction must be made between dry AMD <\/strong>(age-related macular degeneration) and wet AMD<\/strong> (age-related macular degeneration). Especially the latter can lead to a rapid loss of vision. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Your ophthalmologist, Doctor-medic<\/p>\r\n

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What is the macula?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In ophthalmology, the macula refers to a part in the center of the retina. In the macula, the visual cells are strongly bundled. This section of the retina is called the macula (Latin for “macula lutea” or “yellow spot”). Vision is sharpest in the macula. It is therefore also called the “place of central vision”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In macular degeneration, the central visual field is damaged and affected, depending on the type of macular degeneration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What is the cause of age-related macular degeneration? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The causes of AMD (age-related macular degeneration) are sometimes still unclear and are still being researched. However, it is certain that smoking, eye strain from strong light (especially UV) and high blood pressure are causes of macular degeneration. In addition, the genetic predisposition also plays a decisive role in whether you get macular degeneration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What forms of macular degeneration exist?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Basically, there are two forms of AMD, dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dry macular degeneration (AMD) is caused by the disturbance in the breakdown of metabolic products in the eye, which form small yellow dots called drusen. At the onset of the disease, little happens until the drusen begin to destroy and dissolve the retina. The course of the disease is steady over several years and the associated ever-increasing visual disturbances occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In wet macular degeneration (AMD), diseased blood vessels from the choroid grow into and under the retina. This macular degeneration allows blood and fluid to flow into and around the retina. So there is bleeding and swelling. This forms scar tissue in the middle of the retina. The wet form of macular degeneration progresses faster untreated than the dry form of macular degeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wet form of macular degeneration occurs in about 15 percent of patients with macular degeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to recognize age-related macular degeneration?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of age-related macular degeneration disease, spatial perception is usually still possible. With increasing age, there is usually an increased sensitivity to glare, low contrast and also a disturbance in colour perception due to macular degeneration. In addition, the recognition of faces, numbers and letters can become increasingly difficult or almost impossible due to age-related macular degeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, macular degeneration leads to a completely distorted perception.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What are the first symptoms of early-stage macular degeneration?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the early stage of macular degeneration, the following symptoms usually occur:<\/p>\n\n\n

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