Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Symptoms, Causes Health ConditionsFeaturedBreast CancerIBD MigraineMultiple Sclerosis (MS)Rheumatoid ArthritisType 2 DiabetesSponsored TopicsArticlesAcid RefluxADHDAllergiesAlzheimer's & DementiaBipolar DisorderCancerCrohn's DiseaseChronic PainCold & FluCOPDDepressionFibromyalgiaHeart DiseaseHigh CholesterolHIVHypertensionIPFOsteoarthritisPsoriasisSkin Disorders and CareSTDsDiscoverWellness TopicsNutritionFitnessSkin CareSexual HealthWomen's HealthMental HealthSleepOriginal SeriesFresh Food FastDiagnosis DiariesYou’re Not AlonePresent TenseVideo SeriesYouth in FocusHealthy HarvestNo More SilenceFuture of HealthPlanHealth ChallengesMindful EatingSugar SavvyMove Your BodyGut HealthMood FoodsAlign Your SpineFind CarePrimary CareMental HealthOB-GYNDermatologistsNeurologistsCardiologistsOrthopedistsLifestyle QuizzesWeight ManagementAm I Depressed? A Quiz for TeensAre You a Workaholic?How Well Do You Sleep?Tools & ResourcesHealth NewsFind a DietFind Healthy SnacksDrugs A-ZHealth A-ZConnectFind Your Bezzy CommunityBreast CancerInflammatory Bowel DiseasePsoriatic ArthritisMigraineMultiple SclerosisPsoriasisFollow us on social mediaShopProducts by ConditionInsomniaStress ReliefBack PainNeck PainSleep ApneaHot SleepersAllergiesPain ReliefProduct ReviewsVitamins & SupplementsSleepMental HealthNutritionAt-Home TestingCBDMen’s HealthWomen’s HealthHealth ConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribe

What Is Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration 

Medically reviewed by Vicente Diaz, MD, MBA — By Sian Ferguson on September 20, 2022Share on PinterestFG Trade/Getty ImagesAs you age, you’re more prone to certain conditions that affect your vision. One common condition is dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affects your central eyesight. Your macula is a part of your eye that’s responsible for your central vision. When you focus your eyes on a book, on your phone, or when driving, your macula helps you see the details straight in front of you. If the cells on your macula begin to degrade, your central vision will be affected. Macular degeneration is usually age-related. There are two kinds of AMD: wet and dry. Dry AMD, which is far more common, is when the macula gradually gets thinner with age.

What is dry age-related macular degeneration

Dry AMD occurs when the photoreceptor and retinal pigmented epithelial cells on your macula begin to degrade. Because your central vision depends on your macula, dry AMD directly affects your central vision. You might experience blurring or blank “spots” in your central vision. Dry AMD happens in three stages:During early stage dry AMD, the macula starts degenerating, but you don’t experience any symptoms.During intermediate stage dry AMD, you might notice blurring in your central vision.Late stage dry AMD involves more noticeable symptoms. It typically takes years for dry AMD to progress from the early stage to late stage AMD. It’s possible to have dry AMD in one or both eyes. AMD doesn’t cause complete blindness. However, losing your central vision can make it difficult to read, drive, and do other activities.

What are the symptoms of dry age-related macular degeneration

You’re unlikely to experience any symptoms at the earliest stages of dry AMD. However, a doctor or healthcare professional will be able to see that your macula is degenerating during an eye exam. You may not experience any symptoms in the intermediate stage, either. Some people may notice mild blurriness in their central vision. Late stage dry AMD is more noticeable. You might experience the following symptoms:a blurry or blank patch in your central vision that might grow over timeseeing straight lines as curvy or wavycolors may look duller than usualgreater difficulty seeing in low lighting The American Macular Degeneration Foundation has created a video depicting what someone with AMD sees. If you notice that straight lines begin to look curved or wavy, it’s important to get medical attention.

How is dry age-related macular degeneration staged

There are three stages of dry AMD.

Early stage dry AMD

At this stage, your macula begins to degenerate. You’ll experience no symptoms, but a doctor will be able to see the macular degeneration during an eye exam. They might notice large drusen, which are yellow spots, in the macula.

Intermediate stage dry AMD

At the intermediate stage, you might experience mild symptoms of macular degeneration. These symptoms can include difficulty seeing in low light as well as some blurriness in your central vision. You might also begin to see straight lines as wavy.

Late stage dry AMD

Late stage dry AMD involves more noticeable vision loss. These symptoms might include:more difficulty seeing in low lightingblurriness or blank patches in your central visioncolors appear duller than usualseeing straight lines as curvy or wavy A clinician might notice larger or more pronounced drusen when examining the affected eye(s).

What causes dry age-related macular degeneration

Dry AMD is caused by the degradation of cells in the macula. Macular degeneration can be caused by age or by environmental factors.

How is dry age-related macular degeneration different than wet AMD

Wet AMD happens when abnormal blood vessels grow in the back of the eye and damage the macula, while dry AMD occurs when the cells in the macula begin to deteriorate and die. Dry age-related macular degeneration differs from wet AMD in that dry AMD happens more slowly. However, if you have dry AMD, it can progress to wet AMD. Dry AMD is also more common than wet AMD: About 85 to 90% of age-related macular degeneration diagnoses are dry AMD, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

Who is at risk of developing dry age-related macular degeneration

As the name suggests, AMD is closely related to your age. Macular degeneration is considered age-related when it occurs in people over 55 years of age. Although age is the most obvious risk factor, you might be at a higher risk of dry AMD if you:have a family history of AMDsmoke cigarettes, vape nicotine, or use other tobacco products are whitedon’t have a balanced diet Although you can’t change your genetics or age, you can embark on positive lifestyle changes that support your eye health. For example, you can consider a smoking cessation program if you do smoke. You can also speak with a doctor or other healthcare professional about improving your diet.

How is dry age-related macular degeneration diagnosed

Macular degeneration can be diagnosed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist during an eye test. During an eye exam, a clinician might ask whether you’ve experienced any changes in your vision. They might ask you to look at an Amsler grid, which is a black-and-white grid with a dot in the middle. If you have any blurry or blank spots in your vision, the Amsler grid will make it more noticeable. To check for macular degeneration, you’ll need a dilated eye exam. Your clinician will put dilating eye drops in your eye and then look at your eye using a special lens. Note that it takes a while for eye dilating drops to wear off, so you might need to take a few hours off work and avoid driving after the appointment. Eye dilating drops can cause light sensitivity, so bring a pair of good-quality sunglasses to your appointment, if possible. A clinician might also check your retina using:optical coherence tomography, which is where a machine scans your retinafluorescein angiography, which involves injecting yellow dye into a vein — usually in your arm — and then photographing the retina as the dye reaches the vessels in your eyeoptical coherence tomography angiography, which is like fluorescein angiography without the dye If a clinician doesn’t notice any changes in your macula but you’re at risk of developing AMD, they might advise you to make an appointment for another test in the near future. Regularly monitoring your eyes for degeneration can help you understand and manage your diagnosis.

How is dry age-related macular degeneration treated

There’s no cure for dry AMD. However, some people might benefit from using a combination of supplements. Two clinical trials, called Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2), looked at how to treat intermediate and late stage AMD. The study found that people with AMD were less likely to lose their central vision if they took a combination of vitamins and minerals every day. These supplements are:Vitamin C (500 mg)Vitamin E (400 IU)Lutein (10 mg)Zeaxanthin (2 mg)Zinc (80 mg)Copper (2 mg) It’s best to speak with an ophthalmologist before trying these supplements. The studies suggested that the AREDS supplements only helped people with certain forms of dry AMD, and it might be that you wouldn’t benefit from them. An ophthalmologist might also be able to suggest lifestyle changes — such as smoking cessation and a diet rich in nutrients — that might reduce the progression of dry AMD.

Is there anything you can do to prevent dry age-related macular degeneration

In some cases, you might be able to lower your risk of developing dry AMD. To support your eye health, you can try to:limit or quit smoking, vaping, or using tobacco productsget regular movementeat a balanced dietmaintain healthy blood pressure

What s the outlook for people who have macular degeneration

AMD doesn’t cause complete blindness. However, it can cause you to lose your central vision, which can affect your day-to-day life. If you have a family history of AMD, it’s wise to visit an eye doctor regularly for checkups. They can review your individual medical history and advise you on how often you should undergo an eye exam. Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information. Last medically reviewed on September 20, 2022

How we vetted this article

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Age-related eye disease studies (AREDS/AREDS2). (2020).
nei.nih.gov/research/clinical-trials/age-related-eye-disease-studies-aredsareds2Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). (2021).
nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degenerationAREDS/AREDS2 clinical trials. (2020).
nei.nih.gov/research/clinical-trials/age-related-eye-disease-studies-aredsareds2/about-areds-and-areds2AREDS/AREDS 2 frequently asked questions. (2020).
nei.nih.gov/research/clinical-trials/age-related-eye-disease-studies-aredsareds2/aredsareds2-frequently-asked-questionsAREDS 2 supplements for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). (2021).
nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration/nutritional-supplements-age-related-macular-degenerationBoyd K. (2022). Vitamins for AMD.
aao.org/eye-health/diseases/vitamins-amdBoyd K. (2022). What is macular degeneration?
aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amd-macular-degenerationMedeiros S, et al. (2022). New treatments for age-related macular degeneration.
aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/promising-new-treatments-amdWhat is macular degeneration? (n.d.).
macular.org/about-macular-degeneration/what-is-macular-degenerationOur experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Sep 20, 2022 By Sian Ferguson Edited By Tess Catlett Medically Reviewed By Vicente Diaz, MD, MBA Copy Edited By Brennan Doherty Share this articleMedically reviewed by Vicente Diaz, MD, MBA — By Sian Ferguson on September 20, 2022

related stories

Wet AMD and Vision Loss: Your FAQsSimple Changes to Make Your Home Safer for Low VisionResources for Managing Vision Loss at WorkDry Macular Degeneration (AMD): Symptoms, Risk Factors, Management, and More7 Tips to Protect Your Vision and Avoid Macular Degeneration

Read this next

Wet AMD and Vision Loss: Your FAQs Age-related macular degeneration can have a significant impact on vision, especially if wet AMD is present. Find the answers to your frequently asked…READ MORESimple Changes to Make Your Home Safer for Low Vision These simple changes can make it safer to get around your home and complete daily tasks when living with low vision. READ MOREResources for Managing Vision Loss at Work It's natural to be concerned how wet AMD may affect your employment. Learn more about resources and accommodations available for you.READ MOREDry Macular Degeneration (AMD): Symptoms, Risk Factors, Management, and More Dry AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. There's no cure, but slowing progression and managing dry AMD is possible. Learn more.READ MORE7 Tips to Protect Your Vision and Avoid Macular Degeneration Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Here's how to keep your vision safe while enjoying the sun this…READ MOREWhat is the Amsler Grid Test? You can take the Amsler grid test at home every day to detect small changes in your vision that indicate a problem. Here's how it works.READ MOREBest Eyeglasses for Macular Degeneration Medically reviewed by Leela Raju, MD Although most cases of macular degeneration can’t be treated or reversed, specialty eyeglasses for macular degeneration might help improve your vision.READ MOREWhat to Know About Cannabis and Macular DegenerationMedically reviewed by Eloise Theisen, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC The research on macular degeneration and marijuana is inconclusive. There’s no evidence suggesting it’s a treatment — or a danger — for people with…READ MOREWhat We Know About CBD for Macular Degeneration (AMD)Medically reviewed by Eloise Theisen, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC CBD has similar pain-relieving effects to THC but isn't psychoactive. Early research suggests CBD may help AMD, but it is not endorsed by doctors.READ MORE*clone Market VIP* The 11 Best Mattresses for Lower Back Pain in 2022Medically reviewed by Gregory Minnis, DPT These 11 picks are some of the best mattresses for lower back pain. Offering medium-firm support, they’ll help keep you aligned and rested.READ MORE