What are the different types of AMD?
AMD occurs in three main forms, dry AMD, wet AMD, and PED: Dry AMD – 90% of all people with AMD have this type. In dry AMD there is slow breakdown of the photoreceptor and RPE cells in the macula and a gradual impairment of central vision. Dry AMD is characterized by the presence of small yellow deposits under the retina called drusen, and by the appearance of small patches of defect in the macula called geographic atrophy (GA). Dry AMD usually causes only mild impairment of central vision. Wet AMD – Wet AMD is characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina that are called CNV. Although only 10 percent of all people with AMD have this type, it accounts for 90 percent of all blindness from the disease. As dry AMD worsens CNV may begin to grow and cause wet AMD. Because CNV tend to be very fragile, they will often leak blood and fluid under the macula. This causes rapid damage to the macula that can lead to the loss of central vision in a short period of time. PED
