What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?

AMD is an age-related degenerative disease of the macula, a small area at the very centre of your retina that allows you to see details directly in front of you such as words on a page, images on television, or someone's face.

By damaging the macula, AMD can slowly take away central vision, sometimes to the point of being unable to drive or even to read.

Currently, more than 2.1 million Canadians over age 50 are suffering varying degrees of vision loss from AMD with 78,000 more diagnosed each year. Since there is no cure for AMD, it makes sense to focus on keeping our eyes as healthy as possible and managing the risks associated with the disease. A number of these AMD risk factors have been identified, some of which you can control or modify and some you cannot.

Continue reading to learn more about the risk factors for AMD or click here for steps to take to keep your eyes healthy.