Types of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) appears in 2 forms: "wet" and "dry." Dry AMD is most common and may or may not develop into the wet form.

Dry AMD is characterized by large, "yellowish," fatty deposits (drusen), which collect in the macula (the part of the retina responsible for central vision) and cause vision loss of different degrees. Serious vision loss caused by dry AMD is rare.

Only about 10 to 20 percent of people with age-related macular degeneration have the "wet" type. Wet AMD strikes quickly, however, and can result in rapid vision loss. This type of AMD is characterized by abnormal, leaky blood vessels in the macula, which may create scar tissue, causing permanent blind spots. Though less common than dry AMD, wet AMD is responsible for up to 90 percent of all cases of severe vision loss.

In clinical trials, most vision loss due to wet AMD occurred within 3 to 6 months of diagnosis.
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