Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic, progressive and disabling degenerative retinal disease that begins after the age of 50 years.
Risk factors
Apart from age, risk factors include smoking (+++), as well as probably high blood pressure, light-colored iris, a history of coronary events and significant exposure to light.
Genetic factors also play a role in the occurrence of AMD. The frequency of AMD is higher for siblings of a patient with AMD.
Diagnostic
Decrease in visual acuity (near and far) related to the slow worsening of the lesions
Sudden loss of visual acuity, most often related to the appearance of choroidal neovessels
Metamorphopsia (+++) = a sense of deformed objects: the patient often describes seeing straight lines as waves
Central Scotoma, indicating very advanced stages.
