FAQs About AMD

Don’t we wish we knew then what we know now? Being newly diagnosed with AMD is shocking and traumatic! We don’t even remotely understand it and we are not sure what it means for our future. I thought I would try and capture some frequently asked questions (FAQs) for you to consider.

My life with AMD

My journey with AMD started about 9 years ago. I was diagnosed with wet AMD in one eye and dry in the other. It scared the wits out of me. I seriously thought they were telling me I was going blind...and soon! Fast forward to present day and I still read, drive, and watch TV. Yes, I’ve had some decline but I’m still in the game.

Frequently asked questions about a new AMD diagnosis

It’s my hope that the FAQs below might answer a few questions for the newly diagnosed. So, here we go!

Will I make my age-related macular degeneration worse by continuing to read?

No! You may find it more tiring for your eyes and need to take more frequent breaks. Better lighting is a good thing to have. Personally, I can no longer easily read a paperback, newspaper, or magazine. I do all my reading on an iPad or Kindle Oasis (it’s a snazzy version of the Kindle Paperwhite and I love it!). The reason is that you can adjust the font, letter size, and back-lighting and it makes reading easier.

Can “using” my eyes cause further damage?

No, definitely not! You cannot hurt your eyes or wear them out quicker by using them for normal tasks. Please “use” your eyes as much as you like. It is strongly recommended that you always wear sunglasses when outside, even on cloudy days. Make sure they are 100% UVA and UVB protected. I use polarized “fit-overs” in an amber tint.

Can “resting” my good eye save it from developing age-related macular degeneration?

If only one eye is affected, resting your “good” eye has no impact on the risk of developing AMD. To elaborate further, some people who have a “bad” eye and a “good” eye consider wearing an eye patch on their bad eye and only using their good eye. I’m personally not buying into this strategy, but only you and your eye doc should decide this.

My eyes water frequently, does this mean I have wet macular degeneration? Or, I have dry eyes, does this mean I have dry macular degeneration?

No! These conditions have nothing to do with the inner workings of the retina. Possible causes could be allergies. You should speak to your optometrist, ophthalmologist, or RS regarding solutions for these maladies.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

I’ve only touched on a few of the many FAQs available to you. There’s a million of ‘em! There are so many frequently asked questions that it would take me forever and bore you to tears. But there’s a better way! And it’s available to all of you for free! Just log onto our website, MacularDegeneration.net and you will find a plethora of info and articles.

Resources for additional information

I urge you to use the search function, it’s very easy to do. Look at the upper left corner (remember, I’m referring to the MacularDegeneration.net website, not Facebook) and you will see 3 horizontal lines (like dashes). Click on this and it will show you topic headings like symptoms and complications, testing and diagnosis, treatment, research, etc. When you click on one of them it will expand into sub-categories.

There is a true wealth of information for you to explore. And remember, always feel free to just ask a question if you can’t find what you’re seeking. We have many advocates, moderators, and an excellent editorial staff that will be only too happy to help you. Wishing you well on our shared journey.