What is the prognosis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?

Is your dad's vision still clear? Good color? No low vision, Can he see okay in the dark?
Does your dad wear glasses? I read they don't help and yet I still see people who have AMD wearing them.
I hope to continue to see perfectly in the dark. I have no issues walking to the bathroom in the dark, I see everything.
I'm praying to keep excellent vision since we will mostly catch any progression early.
I apologize again for all of the questions
. I haven't heard of Saint Peregrine... But I never heard of Saint Lucy either. I looked her up.

I sure hope all of my questions has'nt chased you off.

I sure hope all of my questions haven't chased you off.

No, not at all. I've been busy working. I take care of a young girl (29).
No, he doesn't see his best at night. In fact, within the last year he's given up driving at night. Loves playing Moon, a domino game. His buddy comes to pick him up every Friday evening.
He also still wears his glasses, and recently had cataract surgery in both eyes.
I know I haven't answered every question, but hope this info helps. If there's a delay, I apologize, but I'm working also. Have a great evening.

I’m 64 and was diagnosed with dry AMD in my 50’s. I can’t remember exactly when.

But I remember being very upset, too. I was so scared that I would go blind any day. But my sister-in-law, who works in the medical device industry (pacemakers, laser tools that do eye surgery, etc) sent me some info on it that made me realize that it wasn’t as dire as I feared.

My vision is affected in that I do see straight lines as wavy, particularly when I’m using just my right eye, which is more affected than my left. And things are just not as sharp. Although, that is probably also due to having to wear contacts/glasses as I’ve aged. I never needed them until I was in my 40’s.

My optometrist actually diagnosed me. So I went to my retina specialist and he confirmed the diagnosis. He was not worried at all and told me that maybe in my 80’s I might start having trouble seeing. That doc retired and I started seeing another retina specialist in the same practice. He watched me very closely for a couple of years. First every four months, then twice a year, and now yearly. He was watching for any changes in the spots on the macula and making sure I wasn’t in danger of going wet.

I’m due for my yearly appointment now. But last year, both my optometrist and retina specialist told me that my AMD was very slightly better. I didn’t even know that was a thing. I thought AMD only got worse.

I haven’t done anything different that I know of. I had even stopped taking the AREDS2 six months prior because I discovered the vitamins were making me very sick.

I consider myself to be very healthy. I have celiac disease, so am on a gluten free diet. I don’t take any kind of meds. I’ve never smoked and I don’t drink alcohol. I have a retinal detachment disease in my family, which is why I already had a retina specialist. And I also had acute angle glaucoma, which was treated with a quick laser surgery and I’ve had no problems.

I’m living my life normally and hope to do so for years to come.

I know there are people out there working diligently on a cure/treatment for AMD. And I actually have a friend who invented a device for people who have lost their central vision. Right now, even though it works, it is not an ideal solution. Last time I talked to him about it, it was basically a pair of goggles that a cell phone was mounted on. I couldn’t see myself walking around with a cellphone stuck to my face. 😂
But with the way technology is, I expect that, if he hasn’t already, he will find a way to put the device in what looks like a regular pair of eye glasses.

So there is hope on multiple fronts and I am no longer afraid of going blind at this point.

No problem, I'm grateful you didn't leave the chat because of my 20+ questions.
You are such a great person to care for someone who I am assuming is disabled/handicap. We need more people like you in this cold world we live in
Is your dad in his late 70s to early 80s? It seems he's been doing just fine with his night vision until now. Correct? Making it that long for not to be bothered by night vision would be perfect, a Godsend.
Your dad is so lucky to have caring friends who take him out with guys. Isolation is big deal for AMD, I think things are very different for us than the of horror stories reposted on Google by careless people. Google sure turned me inside out but now I know it's outdated.
Like I read that glasses do nothing yet people with AMD still function better with them.
I have small cataracts, nothing that bothers me at this point, but that was something else I read... Cataract surgery causes AMD to be worse and that's not true.
You have been a great contact for me and you have answered many of my questions. I feel so much more relaxed. I am meeting with my primary eye opthalmologist at 2pm because that is also the same office to diagnose my father and want answers.
I will send you a short message after the appointment and we can chat later. Have a great day!

Thank you so much for your response And words of encouragement.
I'm running to an eye doctor appointment. I will respond as soon as I return.

Yes, he's 81 :))
Please let us know how your appointment goes. Prayers for a good appointment with your doctor.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm glad I could be of help to you.
Cheers to a wonderful day 😊

Hello,
The appointment went great. My general opthalmologist assured me that I have many years ahead of me, if ever, before I will have to worry about needing eye injections. Treatments are so much better today then even 10 years ago.
Our plan is for me to be seen by my general opthalmologist twice a year like June and Dec as well as the Retina Specialist twice a year in Sept and February. This way any change will be caught immediately. This information and this website has me made less anxious about a future of blindness. I am confident I will keep my vision and be able to watch my family and my grandkids grow up. I will be able to live a full and fun life with good vision, like your dad.
Funny, but a good thing is my vision has improved again.. last visit it was 20/25 both eyes and this time, yesterday, I tested at 20/20 in my left and 20/25 in my left and 20/20 with both eyes. Whoopee!

Yes, I was so fearful to go to sleep because I thought I would wake up blind. It was horrible. I felt dead for almost two months straight. It should be a law that doctors including eye doctors have counselors to explain things and to reassure when necessary. To send people out of an appointment with so many unanswered questions and so much fear inside should be against the law.
Were you diagnosed with wet AMD? Or dry in one eye and wet in the other? When you say you still see wavy lines that should be straight, do you mean on the Amsler grid, or in general when you are walking or driving? My right eye sees a very slightly wavy lines on the grid if I look at it with the left eye closed. The right sees the lines straight
I'm taking AREDS2 but plan to ask the retina specialist if they are necessary. Research doesn't support them very much at all and they are not cheap. I do eat very healthy but that's not new accept my diet may be better now. I do not have any underlying health issues, I'm thin, and I'm active. This just happens to run in my family. Why I have it 25 years younger than most is the mystery.
I don't blame you for not wanting to wear a cell phone/ goggles on your head, lol, I wouldn't either.
I do pray for a cure. I feel they are getting close and may have something within the next 10-15 years.. one promising cure is the gene therapy eye patch.
I'm happy your AMD has improved. I had no idea that was possible but I guess anything is possible.
Thank you for responding to my question. I appreciate any information I can get first hand. Between my eye care team and this website I also do not fear losing my vision anymore. I believe we will catch any small change and jump on it ASAP. 🙂 TTYS