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

Posted by prayingtolucy @prayingtolucy, Aug 3 11:15pm

Can anyone tell me what I am up against if it turns out that I have intermediate AMD. I am 56 and healthy. Does it progress the same as it does in the elderly? Can it remain stable for decades? Are we close to a cure? Do the vitamins and fresh fruit and leafy green vegetable diet work to slow or stop it? I am so upset and scared over this. Do the eye injections work or do they stop after a few years? ... will I be centrally blind by the time I am 65?
Will there be a cure before it is too late for me and many others?
I am so upset

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prayingtolucy | @prayingtolucy | Aug 8 2:16pm

I also have dry eyes that cause my vision to be blurry sometimes. The doctor was talking about that yesterday at our visit. I was telling her how my vision is crystal clear at times but can be blurry at other times.
I am using single use thera tears, which I keep in the refrigerator. The coolness is so refreshing when my eyes start to get dry and tired.
They've been extra dry with all of the crying I had been doing.

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mosaics | @mosaics | Aug 9 6:48am
In reply to @prayingtolucy "Yes, I was so fearful to go to sleep because I thought I would wake up..." + (show)
@prayingtolucy

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

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I have dry AMD only.

When I said I see wavy lines, it is not apparent while I’m looking with both eyes. It’s only when I cover one eye. For example, if I cover my left eye and look at a straight line, say, a door frame, the frame appears wavy. And, yes, it also happens with the grid.

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1 reply
prayingtolucy | @prayingtolucy | Aug 9 8:03am
In reply to @mosaics "I have dry AMD only. When I said I see wavy lines, it is not apparent..." + (show)
@mosaics

I have dry AMD only.

When I said I see wavy lines, it is not apparent while I’m looking with both eyes. It’s only when I cover one eye. For example, if I cover my left eye and look at a straight line, say, a door frame, the frame appears wavy. And, yes, it also happens with the grid.

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I have dry AMD in both eyes as well. My eye doctor is still surprised how I have this at my age. It must have started in my early 50's. It is my right eye that I see slightly wavy lines on the grid. So far, I do not see that with door or picture frames etc. My left eye the grid is straight. Both eyes, everything is straight including the grid.
I am hoping that my daily diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and my younger age will keep this disease at bay.
I pray everyday for a cure that works.
I have a retina specialist appointment on September 3. This will be a third opinion since the first retina specialist diagnosed "most likely" A Pattern Dystrophy, but still has not told me which type he thinks it is. I have a right to know AND honestly, now that I know two family members had and have this disease, I'm pretty sure I do too. Just not sure why 25 years younger.

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talltxlady | @talltxlady | Aug 9 8:14am
In reply to @prayingtolucy "Hello, The appointment went great. My general opthalmologist assured me that I have many years ahead..." + (show)
@prayingtolucy

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!

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That's the Best News Ever!! So happy to hear your good news 😊 have a wonderful, blessed weekend and keep praying to St. Lucy 🙏

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1 reply
prayingtolucy | @prayingtolucy | Aug 9 9:23am
In reply to @talltxlady "That's the Best News Ever!! So happy to hear your good news 😊 have a wonderful,..." + (show)
@talltxlady

That's the Best News Ever!! So happy to hear your good news 😊 have a wonderful, blessed weekend and keep praying to St. Lucy 🙏

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I hope the same news comes from the new retina specialist on Sept 3.
I have a Lucy necklace now and I will definitely keep praying.
We are getting the back end of Debby so it's raining today. Hopefully sun 😎🌞 tomorrow.
Have a great weekend! 😺

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