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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that affects your central vision, impacting sight for objects directly in front of you. It is a common age-related eye condition that occurs mostly in people over the age of 50. An estimated 20 million American adults have some form of AMD.

The macula is the central section of your retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of your eye. The retina captures light and converts it into electrical signals your brain interprets as images (or vision).

Potential signs of AMD include:

• Blurry vision.
• A decrease or loss of central vision, including grayed out, dark, or missing areas.
• Trouble recognizing familiar faces.
• The misjudgment of spatial distances, sometimes resulting in bumping into walls, steps, or other obstacles.
• Straight lines appearing wavy or broken.

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Eighty percent of those with AMD develop the “dry” version. That’s when parts of the macula thin with age and tiny clumps of protein, called drusen, grow.

The “wet” version is less common but more serious. It occurs when new, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina. These vessels might leak blood or other fluids, causing scarring of the macula. Vision deteriorates faster with wet AMD.

AMD might develop in one or both eyes with different levels of severity but does not impact peripheral vision. Risk factors other than age include obesity, smoking, and more.

Regular eye examinations can help detect the onset of AMD. TRICARE covers routine exams every two years. Most separate vision insurance policies include at least one annual eye exam.

Medicare and TRICARE cover medically necessary treatments and diagnostic services for AMD. This includes anti-VEGF injections (which stands for “vascular endothelial growth factor”) and low-vision aids for wet AMD, along with preventive care.

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Photodynamic therapy, which combines eye injections and laser treatment, can help slow or halt the advance of the disease.

Dry AMD can turn into wet AMD. One low-vision aid that can help determine if your AMD is progressing is the Amsler grid. This is a square containing a grid pattern and a dot in the center. It can point to deteriorating spots in your field of vision.

There is no cure for AMD, but low-vision devices and technology can help maintain vision and improve your quality of life.