Skip the primary navigation if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Skip the main content if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Please find below answers to some commonly asked questions about age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Will I go totally blind?
AMD alone does not result in total blindness. Only the central (reading) vision is affected and the surrounding vision remains normal. There are two types of macular degeneration and useful side vision that allows you to see to get around is retained in both.
Will it help my sight if I use my eyes less?
You cannot wear your eyes out. Going closer to the TV or print to see more clearly is not bad for your eyes.
Is there anything that will help me see better?
Yes. To make the most of your peripheral vision learn to move your eyes until the image of the thing you wish to see is focused on the most useful area of the retina. For most people with AMD the best position is fixing your sight slightly above the object you want to see.
Will a new pair of glasses help me see more clearly?
No. Stronger lenses will not repair the damage that has occurred at the back of the eye. Magnifying devices known as low vision aids (LVAs) enable most patients, who at least can count their fingers when held up, to continue to perform normal everyday tasks such as reading newsprint, price tickets or road signs. They include very simple hand held magnifiers, telescopic spectacles or more complex electronic devices. All LVAs require adaptation by the user. Ask your optician to refer you to a low vision clinic.
When you read, have the light from the window behind and to the side of you. Direct the light from an angle poise lamp onto the page. Try changing your light bulbs to stronger ones. If your vision is poor in sunlight, try sunglasses: the best colour is reddish-brown. Ask the nursing staff to explain these ideas more fully.
Can I continue to drive with macular degeneration?
The law requires you to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and your insurance company, of any change in health or sight likely to affect the safety of your driving. You must be able to read a number plate at 20.5 metres (25 yards) in good daylight and with spectacles if worn. You must also have an adequate field of vision. The DVLA may request that you go to an optometrist registered with them for the appropriate field test. Standards are more stringent for vocational drivers. To drive when you are unable to meet the standard is an offence and may invalidate your insurance. Inability to meet these standards requires you to notify the DVLA. You should not drive until you have had confirmation that your vision meets the standards. For more detailed information, please contact the DVLA.
Visual hallucinations/Charles Bonnet Syndrome
When someone loses their sight their brain does not receive as many visual stimuli as it used to. It may be as a way of compensating that the brain produces new images or sometimes old images from memory and the individual experiences these as 'hallucinations 'or day dreams. People are often reluctant to mention this for fear of being classed as 'losing their minds'.
Known as Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS), these hallucinations may often be pleasant, but sometimes they can be disturbing. They usually appear during quiet times, for example, when lying awake at night. It is the failing eyesight and not failing brain functions that cause these hallucinations.
