Many large drusen may indicate that AMD is present but vision may still be normal or nearly normal. This leads to a gradual blurring of vision that people may find noticeable when they try to read. Patients say that straight lines appear crooked and distorted, an affect caused by abnormal blood vessels growing under the retina. The vessels can leak fluid and bleed, lifting up the retina. In some cases, the vessels can be closed off to stop the leakage with laser treatment but vision may or may not improve afterwards, since abnormal blood vessels can grow back after laser treatment.
Macular degeneration is one of the commonest causes of vision loss in older adults.
It does not, by itself, result in total blindness. Most people who have had severe vision loss from macular degeneration, can be assisted with low-vision aids for reading. Patients can notice a gradual or sudden deterioration in, especially reading vision, in the affected eye. Some patients observe distortion of vision which indicates accumulation of fluid under the retina. Macular degeneration is diagnosed by your eye doctor, by careful examination of the back of the eye.