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  • Age-Related Changes (Drusen & Macular Degeneration)
The photographic film of the eye is known as the retina. The macula is the very central retina, where all light is focused. It is responsible for the sharpest vision, especially reading vision. As we age debris collects underneath the retina and macula, known as drusen. These drusen are harmless age-related yellow deposits that start accumulating under the retina in young people. They increase over the years and are essentially normal and harmless. There is however, an association between drusen and macular degeneration. The more drusen, and the larger the drusen, the higher the risk of macular degeneration.
In this macular photograph and OCT image discrete spots can be seen at the macular which can be seen as bumps underneath the retina. Macular degeneration (AMD) is a more severe aging change to the retina. It is actually the commonest cause of blindness in the over 60s in the UK. There are 2 principal types, dry and wet. Both are age related and can be hereditary.

Dry macular degeneration is a gradual wear and tear or thinning of the retina, rather like a well worn jumper that wears thin at the elbows. This thinning of the retina represents tissue loss, and causes gradually increasing blur and distortion. This may take many years to progress significantly and is irreversible. There is no treatment for dry macular degeneration.

Fundus photograph of right eye showing intra-retinal and subretinal haemorrhage, subretinal fluid and exudate, adjacent to signs of dry macular degeneration.
Dry AMD. The central retina (macula) is wearing thin and has developed transparent areas in the retina
Wet macular degeneration (wAMD), also known as neovascular macular degeneration (nAMD), is where abnormal blood vessels begin to grow beneath the retina. These vessels leak and bleed and cause the retina to swell and to be thicker than the normal retina. This is a rapid process and is very destructive within weeks. If left untreated this causes rapid irreversible loss of vision.
Photograph and OCT of a retina showing multiple drusen with swelling of the retina. The retina has numerous large cysts and a thickened area underneath the retina that represents blood vessels growing under the retina.

What are the symptoms of wet macular degeneration?

If you are at risk of wet macular degeneration it is important that you monitor your vision for new blur and distortion. This is best done with an Amsler grid on a weekly basis. An amsler is a box full of straight lines. You need to look at the centre of the grid at 30cm with one eye covered. Whilst looking at the centre spot you will notice that around the spot some of the lines may be blurred or distorted (see below).

A normal amsler grid on the left. A distorted amsler grid on the right. This is how the grid might look with macular degeneration.

People with longstanding dry macular degeneration may notice distortion on this grid, but this distortion should change very little over months to years. Wet macular degeneration on the other hand is a sudden change to the blur and distortion. If you notice any significant change then you should have your macular examined by an ophthalmologist urgently (within 1 week).

It is important to note that dry macular degeneration can turn into wet macular degeneration. If you are aware of sudden blur and distortion then you need to be seen within 1 week to rule out wet macular degeneration. With modern treatment wet macular degeneration can be stabilised in 95% and improved in 30%. 5% of people with wet macular degeneration get worse irrespective of treatment.

What is the treatment of wAMD?

The treatment of wet macular degeneration is a series of injections into the eye. These injections are initially 4 weekly for 12 weeks. This is known as the loading phase. After this loading phase further injections are based on the response of the macular degeneration, as determined by vision and imaging with OCT. Some people require injections every 4 weeks for years, and others require only the loading dose of 3 injections. Most people are somewhere in-between.

The injectable drugs are known as Avastin (Bevacizimab), Lucentis (Ranibizumab) or Eylea (aflibercept). They are anti vascular growth factors (anti-VEGF) and have an action that blocks blood vessel growth and reduce blood vessel leakage.

Is there anything that I can do to stop AMD getting worse?

The biggest risk factors of AMD is age and genetics. These are not reversible. The most important intervention would be if you were a smoker. Smoking increases your risk of macular degeneration significantly. Other than smoking, the only other changes that can be made are dietary. A good diet rich in leafy green vegetables and fish is protective.

We have good evidence that very high doses of vitamin supplements can slow the progression of both wet and dry macular degeneration significantly. The doses involved are much higher than the amounts that can be achieved through normal healthy eating. The evidence comes from large trials involving many thousands of patients with early macular degeneration. These studies are the Age Related Eye Disease Study, abbreviated ‘AREDS’. The latest trial is called AREDS 2. More than 4,000 people, ages 50 to 85 years, who were at risk for advanced AMD participated in AREDS2. After 5 years they were found to be 25 to 30 percent less likely to develop advanced AMD with this formula.

If you are going to use supplements, then buy supplements that have evidence, and use the AREDS formula:

  • 500 mg vitamin C
  • 400 iu vitamin E
  • 10 mg lutein
  • 2 mg zeaxanthin
  • 80 mg zinc
  • 2 mg copper

Warning: If you are an ex-smoker of less than 15 years, use the formulation that does not contain b-carotene.

Eye Surgery Ltd is the web site of Mr Steven Harsum, a substantive consultant ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and retinal surgery, based in South London.

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