What is age-related macular degeneration (ARMD or ARM)?
Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD or ARM) consists of two types: dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration. Most people with ARMD have dry ARMD. In dry ARMD, waste products build up at the back of the eye. It can affect one or both eyes. Central vision may gradually decrease in dry ARMD. Wet ARMD is the more severe form of the condition in which new blood vessels grow at the back of the eye. ARMD is the result of ageing processes in the eye. Some of the layers of the retina thicken and waste material which is usually removed from the retina forms deposits, distorting the retina. This distortion can cause damage to the other layers of the retina. In about 10% of cases, new blood vessels grow into the macula from beneath. These newly-formed vessels are fragile and often leak blood into the retina where the blood causes scar tissue to form. The scarring can block out central vision. There are also some other forms of macular degeneration which are inherited and not associ
