What is age-related macular degeneration, which condition does Dame Judi Dench suffer from?

As she approaches her 91st birthday, Dame Judi Dench has offered a poignant insight into her deteriorating eyesight, describing the decline as “crushing”.

The beloved actress, who was first diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2012, revealed in a candid interview with Radio Times that her vision has deteriorated to the extent that she can no longer watch television.

Dame Judy underlined the personal impact of her situation, saying, “Well, I miss watching Clive Myrie mastermind, but I can hear the questions.”

His continued openness about AMD has continually drawn people’s attention to the eye disease.

Following these latest comments, Dennis Voon, a clinical advisor at The College of Optometrists, provided further clarification about age-related macular degeneration, outlining its different forms and the key symptoms individuals should be aware of.

What is age related macular degeneration?

There are two main types amd,

“There is dry AMD and wet AMD, and although they fall under the same umbrella, they are quite distinct,” explains Voon.

She highlights that dry AMD is the most common type.

“Cells in the back of the eye and the retina begin to slowly degenerate with age and can cause deposits called drusen,” explains Voon.

While a few small drusen are a natural sign of aging, many small drusen, or larger, may be a sign of progression toward AMD, according to College of Optometrists website,

“Dry AMD is usually very slowly progressing and many people don’t notice any problems for years,” says Voon. “Many people have almost normal vision, but if dry AMD gets too bad, it can cause visual problems.”

However, wet AMD develops and affects your vision more quickly.

“Wet AMD is much less common, but it can affect your vision significantly,” says Voon. “This happens when abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina and then leak, and they can cause a sudden and rapid loss of vision.

“Many people say they went to bed looking absolutely fine and then when they woke up, they couldn’t see.”

Who is more likely to be affected?

The older we get, the greater the risk of developing this condition. According to the , about one in every 200 people has AMD at 60. Macular Society,

There are many other risk factors as well.

“If you have a family history of it, it could be a risk factor,” says Voon. “Obesity and having an unhealthy diet can also increase your risk, but the biggest risk factor for AMD is smoking.”

What are the main early signs to look out for?

“What people often notice first, and this is the same with both wet and dry AMD, is that straight lines may appear distorted or bent,” says Voon. “They look at a window frame and say wait, why does it look bent?”

Blemishes and sensitivity to bright light are another common symptom.

“They may also notice spots or blurs in their central vision and bright lights may become more uncomfortable,” says Voon. “When you have AMD it may take longer for your eyes to adjust when going from a dark room to a light room.

“Also, colors may appear dull but distortion and not being able to see in your central vision are usually the most common symptoms.”

How is AMD diagnosed?

“We would recommend seeing your optometrist at least every two years because the early stages of AMD are often detected during an eye exam,” Voon advises. “You may not notice any symptoms, but your optometrist may be able to see the drusen deposits present in dry AMD.

“Then if you have very sudden, rapid loss of vision and it could be wet AMD, the best thing to do is to contact your optometrist and see them, and they will be able to refer you for treatment.”

How can it affect one’s everyday life?

“It typically affects your central vision, so it can be more difficult to read and it can be more difficult to just move around,” Voon highlights. ,One One of the really common things that people complain about is that they can’t recognize faces because it’s just the central part that’s blurred out.

If it is not treated it can have serious consequences.

“If wet AMD is not treated, it can cause scarring in the back of the eye, which can lead to vision loss,” says Voon. “Once it’s lesioned, there’s nothing we can do in terms of treatment, so one of the main consequences is you can lose your central vision.”

Can it be treated?

Injections are the main form of treatment for wet AMD on the NHS.

“Anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) treatment helps prevent abnormal growth of abnormal blood vessels,” explains Voon. “It’s an injection into the eye and they’re usually quite routine.”

However, there is currently no formal treatment for dry AMD on the NHS.

“You can get some treatments for managing dry AMD privately, but they’re all fairly new so we’re not quite sure how effective they are at this stage,” says Voon. “But there are some new, exciting things on the horizon that are expected to come to fruition, but they are still in the approval stage.”

Optometrists can also offer advice on magnifiers or help with phone access, she adds.

“There are also lots of support groups available, and the Macular Society is particularly active and really supportive,” says Voon.

Can it be stopped?

“Quitting smoking is the biggest and best thing you can do to prevent AMD from worsening,” says Voon.

Maintaining a healthy weight and normal blood pressure is also important.

“Regular exercise and a healthy diet including lots of green leafy vegetables are especially good for macular health,” says Voon. “Also, it is also important to visit your optometrist regularly because if they see something that needs to be treated, they can refer you for treatment and give you advice on how to keep your eyes healthy.”