Intermediate AMD taking decades to make a significant difference?

Has anyone with intermediate AMD ever been told by a retina specialist they have decades before they have to worry about the disease progressing to a point that it would make a significant difference? That is not a quoted statement but two specialists told me it will most likely take decades to progress. That is contradictory from all of the information I have read online.
Is there hope for us? Will there ever be a cure?
Thank you