When a physician or doctor asks you if you have a family history of health conditions like cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer, it’s not because they’re being nosy. It’s because genetics plays a role in your chances of developing many health conditions, including eye diseases like macular degeneration.
Genetics do play a role in developing macular degeneration. Macular degeneration comes in two types: dry and wet. Comprehensive eye exams are vital for detecting and managing the condition. Treatment options vary, with no cure for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) but treatments to slow its progression. Wet AMD typically requires regular eye injections to control the disease.
What is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is an eye condition primarily affecting older adults, causing a progressive loss of central vision. Because the disease is so commonly associated with aging, it’s also known as age-related macular degeneration.
AMD is a progressive and chronic disease that usually destroys central vision due to deterioration of the macula—a small central portion of your retina made of millions of light-sensing cells. The macula is responsible for sharp, detailed vision. Reading, cooking, driving, and even recognizing faces are affected as the macula deteriorates.
Does AMD Run in Families?
According to the National Eye Institute, genetics do play a role in whether you develop AMD or not. Our genetics are universally believed to be a risk factor. Family history plays a significant role in determining an individual’s susceptibility to developing this eye condition.
Research has identified several genes associated with an increased risk of AMD. These genetic factors contribute to your likelihood of developing the disease, especially if you have a family member who has been diagnosed with AMD.
Other risk factors
Macular degeneration has several key risk factors beyond genetics. The most significant non-genetic risk factor is age, with individuals aged 55 and up being at higher risk. This risk increases substantially with each decade.
Smoking is another major, but controllable, risk factor that increases your chances of developing AMD by up to four times. Environmental factors also play a role. Unprotected exposure to sunlight can damage the macula and contribute to AMD development.
Other risk factors include:
- High blood pressure
- Obesity (BMI ≥30)
- Eating foods high in saturated fat
- High cholesterol levels
- Higher dietary glycemic index
The Importance of Comprehensive Eye Exams
Comprehensive eye exams are crucial for early detection of AMD, which can lead to vision loss without diagnosis and treatment. They allow our team to thoroughly examine your retina and macula, often before noticeable symptoms appear.
Dr. Thompson and Dr. Abbott can identify early signs of macular degeneration through tests like:
- Dilated eye exams
- Digital retinal imaging
- Optical coherence tomography
Checking for drusen deposits or changes in retinal structure and using an Amsler grid can also help detect AMD in its early stages.
Early detection is vital because it enables prompt treatment, which can slow disease progression and preserve your vision. Regularly scheduled eye exams are especially important if you’re over the age of 55 or have risk factors. By catching the AMD early, you’ll have a better chance of maintaining your quality of life and independence.
Types 
There are two forms of AMD: dry and wet.
Dry AMD is the more common type. It occurs when the macula gradually thins and deteriorates. This leads to a slow loss of central vision over time but rarely causes complete blindness.
Wet macular degeneration, also known as neovascular AMD, is less common but more severe. It develops when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the macula. These vessels are fragile and leak blood and fluid, causing rapid and significant damage to the macula.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for dry and wet AMD differ significantly. For example, there’s no cure for getting rid of the spot in the center of vision due to dry macular degeneration. However, certain measures can help slow its progression.
These include:
- Taking vitamin supplements
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Not smoking
- Protecting your eyes from UV light
- Controlling cholesterol levels
Wet macular degeneration treatment primarily involves monthly or bi-monthly injections into the eye to inhibit abnormal blood vessel growth. In some cases, photodynamic therapy using a light-activated drug may be used. Laser surgery is occasionally employed to seal leaking blood vessels.
While these treatments can slow vision loss, they cannot restore lost vision.
Macular degeneration (AMD) can be genetic and exists in two forms: dry and wet. Regular, thorough eye examinations are crucial for early detection and effective management. While dry AMD has no cure, strategies exist to slow its advancement. In contrast, wet AMD often necessitates periodic eye injections as a primary treatment method to control the condition’s progression.
Hardin Valley Eyecare & Optical has been serving Knoxville since 2009. Located at 10904 Spring Bluff Way, you can schedule an appointment online or call us at (865) 888-0892.
*Editor’s Note: This blog has been updated since it was originally published in August 2021
