Macular Degeneration—Ag... Health Article

Prognosis

Most individuals with mild dry macular degeneration will never develop disabling central vision loss. However, there is no current method of predicting which individuals will progress to an advanced stage of AMD. AMD can cause the loss of central vision only and cannot cause peripheral vision loss. However, loss of central vision may interfere with many activities of daily life and significantly impact its quality. An individual with advanced AMD may become functionally blind, so that reading, driving, recognizing faces, and many other common activities become impossible. The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease and type. Mild forms of dry AMD have a better prognosis than advanced dry or wet AMD. As symptoms progress, individuals with AMD become at higher risk for psychological distress due to decreasing quality of life and independence. The prognosis improves if low-vision devices and support groups are utilized to improve the quality of life.

BOOKS

D'Amato, Robert, and Joan Snyder. Macular Degeneration: The Latest Scientific Discoveries and Treatments for Preserving Your Sight. New York: Walker & Co., 2000.

Solomon, Yale, and Jonathan D. Solomon. Overcoming Macular Degeneration: A Guide to Seeing Beyond the Clouds. New York: Morrow/Avon, 2000.

PERIODICALS

Bressler, Neil M., and James P. Gills. "Age-related Macular Degeneration." British Medical Journal 321, no. 7274 (December 2000): 1425–1427.

Fong, Donald S. "Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Update for Primary Care." American Family Physician 61, no. 10 (May 2000): 3035–3042.

"Macular Degeneration." Harvard Women's Health Watch 6, no. 2 (October 1998): 2–3.

"Researchers Set Sights on Vision Disease." Harvard Health Letter 23, no.10 (August 1998): 4–5.

"Self-test for Macular Degeneration." Consumer Reports on Health 12, no.12 (December 2000): 2.

ORGANIZATIONS

AMD Alliance International. PO Box 550385, Atlanta, GA 30355. (877) 263-7171. (April 6, 2005.) <http://www.amdalliance.org>.

American Macular Degeneration Foundation. PO Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515. (413) 268-7660. (April 6, 2005.) <http://www.macular.org>.

Foundation Fighting Blindness. Executive Plaza 1, Suite 800, 11350 McCormick Rd., Hunt Valley, MD 21031. (888) 394-3937. (April 6, 2005.) <http://www.blindness.org>.

Macular Degeneration Foundation. PO Box 9752, San Jose, CA 95157. (888) 633-3937. (April 6, 2005.) <http://www.eyesight.org>.

Retina International. Ausstellungsstrasse 36, Zürich, CH-8005. Switzerland (+41 1 444 10 77). (April 6, 2005.) <http://www.retina-international.org>.

WEBSITES

Medline. (April 6, 2005.) <http://medlineplus.gov/>.

National Eye Institute AMD. (April 6, 2005.) <http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.asp#1>.

National Eye Institute News and Events. (April 6, 2005.) <http://www.nei.nih.gov/news/statements/genes_amd.asp>.

Recent Research and Publications AMD. (April 6, 2005.) <http://wwwchg.mc.duke.edu/research/amdx.html>.

Maria Basile, PhD

Pamela J. Nutting, MS, CGC