Wet AMD develops in approximately 10% of people living with dry AMD. In 2019, about 19.8 million Americans, or about 12.6% of the population, were living with AMD.Wet AMD is a progressive disease. It occurs when new blood vessels form in the back of the eye and then leak or burst. The fluid leakage can cause scarring on the macula, a central section of the retina that helps provide clear central vision.
Without treatment, wet AMD can lead to irreversible vision loss. Even with treatment, a person may still experience some vision loss as the disease progresses.
Wet macular degeneration symptoms usually appear suddenly and worsen quickly. They may include:
- Visual distortions, such as straight lines seeming bent.
- Reduced central vision in one or both eyes.
- The need for brighter light when reading or doing close-up work.
- Difficulty adjusting to low light levels, such as when entering a dimly lit restaurant or theater.
- Increased blurriness of printed words.
- Difficulty recognizing faces.
- A well-defined blurry spot or blind spot in the field of vision.
- Macular degeneration doesn't affect side vision, so it doesn't cause total blindness.
It's interesting that the "Wet" AMD, retinal scar tissue, and sleep apnea are related per this article. I'll raise this with my retina doctor (he has not inquired about sleep apnea).
Thanks again for posting, CM!
Thanks for posting that. My auntie suffers from that. Has had various treatments and recently resorted to surgery. She doesn’t sleep well. Could be apnea related. She’s barely 5 feet and eats too many cookies. I take her out for lunch every 6 weeks or so. Poor gal doesn’t get around very easily though she can walk, and the exercise is good for her. The stop at the See’s candy shop isn’t a good idea but I indulge her. She’s entitled at her age I guess.