Module 2 Flashcards
What is AMD?
Stands for Aged-related macular degeneration, the most common macular disease in Australia.
1/7 Australians over the age of 50 has some evidence of AMD - about 1.4 millions people.
AMD is a chronic and progressive disease of the macular, the centre of the retina at the back of the eye. The disease damages your central vision leaving your peripheral vision in tact.
AMD effects anything that requires detailed central vision such as reading, driving, or recognising faces. But it doesn’t lead to total vision loss or black blindness. It can affect one eye or both eyes.
AMD is related to ageing but it’s not a normal or inevitable consequence of getting older. It can progress slowly or advance quickly. Infact people with AMD can take steps to protect their vision.
Call our national helpline for advice 1800 111 709
What is AMD (short version)?
AMD is a chronic and progressive disease of the macula. The disease damages your central vision, leaving your peripheral vision intact.
AMD affects anything that requires detailed central vision such as reading, driving or recognising faces. It does not lead to total vision loss, or black blindness. It can affect one eye or both eyes.
It can progress slowly, or advance quickly.
What is AMD - fill in the blanks
AMD is a chronic and _______ disease of the ________. The disease damages your _________ vision, leaving your __________ vision intact.
AMD affects anything that requires detailed central vision such as ________, _________ or __________. It does not lead to total vision loss, or ____________. It can affect one eye or both eyes.
It can progress slowly, or advance _________.
Progressive
Macula
Central
Peripheral
Reading
Driving
Recognising Faces
Black blindness
Quickly
What is AMD - fill in the blanks
AMD is a chronic and _______ disease of the ________. The disease damages your _________ vision, leaving your __________ vision intact.
AMD affects anything that requires detailed central vision such as ________, _________ or __________. It does not lead to total vision loss, or ____________. It can affect one eye or both eyes.
It can progress slowly, or advance _________.
Progressive
Macula
Central
Peripheral
Reading
Driving
Recognising faces
Black blindness
Quickly
What are the three stages AMD is categorized into?
- Early
- Intermediate
- Late (further divided into wet and dry)
What type of AMD will most people I encounter in the community have?
Intermediate AMD or late AMD
What are the symptoms of AMD?
You can have the early signs of AMD without even knowing.
DUring the early and intermediate stages you may not notice any changes to your vision. That’s why its so important to have your regular eye exams with your opteometrust. But as AMD progesses you mifht notice some of these symptoms.
- Difficulty reading
- Straight lines appearing wavey or bent
- Difficulty recognising faces
- Dark or blurred patches in the centre of your visinos
- Worse vision at night
- Sensitivity to glare
- Reduced colour vision
It’s important to know that AMD will not lead to total vision loss or black blindness
What should you do if you experience any changes in your vision?
Not dismiss it as part of getting older.
The earlier you can catch AMD the better.
It is crucial to monitor your vision at home using am Amsler grid.
Have regular eye exams, including a check of the macula.
How do you order an Amsler grid or find an optometrist near you?
Visit www.mdfoundation.com.au or call our national helpline on 1800 111 709
What should you do if you experience any changes in your vision?
Not dismiss it as part of getting older.
The earlier you can catch AMD the better.
It is crucial to monitor your vision at home using an Amsler grid.
Have regular eye exams, including a check of the macula.
What is an Amsler grid?
The Amsler grid, used since 1945, is a grid of horizontal and vertical lines used to monitor a person’s central visual field. The grid was developed by Marc Amsler, a Swiss ophthalmologist.
What can be done about AMD?
Whilst there are no cures for AMD, there are treatment options available for people with AMD, and these include appropriate dietary changes and/or intravitreal injections.
If detected early, are there measures that someone with AMD can take to reduce their chances of developing further AMD? What are they?
Yes.
In the early stages, a good diet can reduce their chances of progression.
Even in the intermediate and late stages, a good diet high in the requisite foods to protect the macula is still highly encouraged.
What do foods that can help with AMD contain?
Antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients.
Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and silverbeet are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two vitamins that protect the macula.
Fish, particularly oily varieties like salmon, mackerel, anchovies, and trout, are full of omega-3 fatty acids which are also important to eye health.
People who eat low GI carbs instead of high GI carbs also have a lower risk of developing AMD.
Low GI carbs include most fruit and veggies, as well as whole grain bread rather than white bread.
How do people get the recipes that are good for your macula?
MDFA publishes free online cookbooks for recipes that are both delicious and good for your macula.
Can be downloaded at www.mdfoundation.com.au
