National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Macular Degeneration is the National Eye Institute
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Macular Degeneration
Also called: Age-related macular degeneration, AMD
Macular degeneration, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 and older. It is a disease that destroys your sharp, central vision. You need central vision to see objects clearly and to do tasks such as reading and driving.
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. It does not hurt, but it causes cells in the macula to die. In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. Regular comprehensive eye exams can detect macular degeneration before the disease causes vision loss. Treatment can slow vision loss. It does not restore vision.
NIH: National Eye Institute
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Start Here
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration
(National Eye Institute)
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Facts about Age-Related Macular Degeneration(National Eye Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Macular Degeneration
(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
For group Learn More
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- Also available in Spanish
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration: What You Should Know(National Eye Institute)
- PDF
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Amsler Grid Instructions(Prevent Blindness America)
- Macular Degeneration: Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor(Harvard Medical School)
- Tests Your Doctor Might Use(Macular Degeneration Partnership)
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Prevention/Screening
- Macular Degeneration Risk Factors and Prevention(American Health Assistance Foundation)
- Prevention and Early Detection(AMD Alliance International)
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Nutrition
- Diet and Nutrition(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- Diet and Nutrition(American Optometric Association)
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin(American Optometric Association)
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Rehabilitation/Recovery
- Rehabilitation(AMD Alliance International)
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Disease Management
- Living with AMD(Macular Degeneration Partnership)
- Make the Most of Your Vision(Macular Degeneration Partnership)
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Specific Conditions
- Dry Macular Degeneration(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Wet Macular Degeneration(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Related Issues
- Adjusting to Vision Loss(AMD Alliance International)
- AMD and Depression(AMD Alliance International)
- AMD: For Family and Caregivers(Macular Degeneration Partnership)
- Driving When You Have Macular Degeneration(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
- Questions to Ask Your Eye Care Professional(AMD Alliance International)
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Tutorials
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration(National Eye Institute)
- Macular Degeneration(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration
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Videos
- If I Had - Central Vision Blurring(Insidermedicine)
- If I Had - Macular Degeneration(Insidermedicine)
- Macular degeneration - Encyclopedia
- Also available in Spanish
- Stargardt Disease(American Macular Degeneration Foundation)
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Anatomy/Physiology
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Diagram of the Eye(National Eye Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Diagram of the Eye
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Macular Degeneration(National Institutes of Health)
- Clinical Trials for Dry AMD(Macular Degeneration Partnership)
- Clinical Trials for Wet AMD(Macular Degeneration Partnership)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Macular Degeneration
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Age-related macular degeneration(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Stargardt macular degeneration(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Age-related macular degeneration
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Research
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Age-Related Eye Disease Study -- Results(National Eye Institute)
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)(National Eye Institute)
- AMD Treatments(AMD Alliance International)
- Antioxidants and Age-Related Eye Disease(American Optometric Association)
- Research for Dry AMD and Wet AMD(Macular Degeneration Partnership)
- Study Links Daily Aspirin Use to Increased Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- Two-Year Results Confirm Strong Efficacy of Two Drugs in Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
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Age-Related Eye Disease Study -- Results
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Glossary(Foundation Fighting Blindness)
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Low Vision Glossary(National Eye Institute)
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Directories
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Eye Health Organizations Database(National Eye Institute)
- Find an Eye M.D.(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- Find Services (for People with Vision Loss)(American Foundation for the Blind)
- Reading Services(American Macular Degeneration Foundation)
- State Agencies Specializing in Blindness and Visual Impairment(American Macular Degeneration Foundation)
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Eye Health Organizations Database
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Organizations
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Newsletters/Print Publications
- AMD Newsletter(Macular Degeneration Partnership)
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MedlinePlus Magazine
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Children
- Stargardt Disease(Foundation Fighting Blindness)
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Patient Handouts
- Fluorescein angiography
- Also available in Spanish
- Home vision tests
- Also available in Spanish
- Macular degeneration - age-related
- Also available in Spanish
- Ophthalmoscopy
- Also available in Spanish
- Slit-lamp exam
- Also available in Spanish
- Standard ophthalmic exam
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
