Age-related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month
February is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month. It’s important to raise awareness about AMD because it’s the leading cause of vision loss in people aged 55+, affecting 2.5 million Canadians. Early detection could slow the progression of vision loss.
Types of AMD
There are two kinds of AMD: dry AMD and wet AMD, and geographic atrophy is an advanced form of dry AMD.
Wet AMD
The wet form of AMD is less common but more severe than dry AMD. Approximately one in 10 people with dry AMD will develop wet AMD, also called neovascular AMD. In wet AMD, blood vessels grow abnormally below the thinning macula. If left untreated, they can leak blood and fluid into the eye.
Dry AMD
The dry form of AMD is more common and usually less severe than wet AMD. It occurs when the macula region of the retina becomes thinner. AMD is a progressive disease, meaning that symptoms normally get worse over time. In approximately 10 per cent of individuals, dry AMD can turn into wet AMD.
Geographic Atrophy
Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced form of dry AMD that affects more than five million people worldwide. In GA, cells in the retina start to die, creating areas of death or atrophy which cause vision loss. GA often begins near the centre of the macula, causing blind spots in the central field of vision.
Tips to Decrease Your Risk
Experts suggest these five tips to decrease the risk of developing AMD, and for slowing its progression.
- Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, try cutting down or quitting.
- Control your blood pressure & cholesterol.
- Stay physically active.
- Enjoy colourful furits, dark green leafy vegetables and fish, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel.
- Go for regular eye appointments to make sure you catch any eye health changes early.
How you can get Involved in AMD Awareness Month
- Register today for the Feb. 4 View Point webinar on Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): In Research & Practice
- Help raise awareness about AMD using our social media toolkit
- Explore our research news section for the latest on vision loss research, including AMD
- Visit our resource page to learn all about AMD risk factors, symptoms, treatments, and more
- Download an Amsler grid for a quick at-home assessment to test changes in your eyesight
- View our AMD tip sheet
- Watch previous AMD View Point webinars
- Have a question? Contact our Health Information Line at 1.888.626.2995, or at healthinfo@fightingblindness.ca
Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration: In Research & Practice
Date: Tuesday, February 4
Time: 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. ET
Location: VIRTUAL on Zoom
Help Support AMD Research & Programs
FBC is dedicated to supporting research into blinding eye disease, including age-related macular degeneration. We also help provide education and connection programs for people living with AMD so they can learn about their disease, find out about the latest research and connect with others facing similar challenges. Help us make a difference.
Join the Fight!
Learn how your support is helping to bring a future without blindness into focus! Be the first to learn about the latest breakthroughs in vision research and events in your community by subscribing to our e-newsletter that lands in inboxes the beginning of each month.
