Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of sight loss in people over 50 in the UK. It affects the macula — a small but critical part of the retina — and can progressively reduce your ability to read, drive, and recognise faces.

AMD doesn’t usually cause complete blindness. Peripheral vision typically remains intact. But the loss of sharp central vision can be significant and life-changing. Understanding what AMD is, how it develops, and what can be done about it is the first step to managing it well.

What Is the Macula?

The macula is a small area at the centre of the retina, roughly 5mm across. It contains the highest concentration of cone cells in the entire eye — the cells responsible for sharp, fine-detail, and colour vision. Everything that requires seeing clearly — reading small print, recognising a face, watching a screen — relies on your macula.

How Does AMD Develop?

With age, the cells in the macula can begin to break down. Small yellowish deposits called drusen form beneath the retina. These are often the first detectable sign of AMD, visible to your optician on a routine eye exam before you notice any change in your vision.

Over time, drusen can grow. The retinal pigment epithelium — the supporting layer beneath the photoreceptors — begins to deteriorate. In more advanced AMD, this leads to significant, permanent central vision loss.

Dry AMD and Wet AMD

AMD comes in two forms, and understanding the difference matters.

Dry AMD

The most common form — around 85-90% of AMD cases. Dry AMD progresses slowly over years. In its advanced stage it causes geographic atrophy: a gradual loss of retinal cells across an expanding area of the macula. There is currently no licensed treatment for most stages of dry AMD, but AREDS 2 nutrition is evidence-based support at the intermediate and advanced stages.

Wet AMD

Wet AMD is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth beneath the retina (neovascularisation). These vessels are fragile and leak fluid and blood, rapidly damaging the macula — sometimes within weeks. Wet AMD is less common but far faster-progressing, and is treatable with anti-VEGF injections when caught early.

Stages of AMD

• Early AMD: small to medium drusen, usually no vision loss. Many people are unaware they have it.
• Intermediate AMD: larger drusen or pigment changes in the retina; possible mild blurring or difficulty in low light.
• Advanced AMD: significant central vision loss, either as advanced dry (geographic atrophy) or wet (neovascular) AMD.

Who Is at Risk?

• Age — the most significant risk factor. Risk rises sharply after 60.
• Smoking — roughly doubles AMD risk and accelerates its progression. Stopping is the single most impactful lifestyle change you can make.
• Family history — a parent or sibling with AMD meaningfully increases your own risk.
• Cardiovascular factors — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity are associated with higher AMD risk.
• Diet — low intake of antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins C and E may contribute.
• UV exposure — wearing UV-protective sunglasses outdoors is a simple, sensible precaution.

Symptoms to Watch For

• Blurred or missing patch in the centre of your vision
• Straight lines appearing wavy or bent (metamorphopsia — an Amsler grid is a simple home test for this)
• Difficulty reading in lower light than before
• Colours appearing washed out or faded
• Needing much brighter light for close work

Early AMD often has no symptoms at all — which is why regular eye tests matter. Your optician can detect early AMD before you notice anything is wrong.

Diagnosis

A standard eye test can reveal AMD signs. Your optician may use fundus photography (images of the retina), OCT scanning (a cross-sectional scan of retinal layers), or an Amsler grid test. If you are over 50, smoke, or have a family history of AMD, mention it at your next appointment.

Nutritional Support for AMD

For people with intermediate AMD or advanced AMD in at least one eye, the AREDS 2 research (published 2013, US National Eye Institute) found that a specific combination of nutrients reduced the risk of progressing to advanced AMD by approximately 25% over 5 years.

This is not a treatment. It won’t reverse damage already done. But for the right people at the right stage, it represents the strongest evidence we currently have for nutritional support. It’s what PreserVision AREDS 2 is based on.

If you’ve been diagnosed with AMD, ask your optician which stage you’re at and whether AREDS 2 supplementation makes sense for you.

Read more about the AREDS 2 formula and the research behind it.