This more common type occurs when the macula gets slowly less healthy. Vision may be normal at first but can gradually worsen. Your doctor can see tiny deposits of proteins and lipids (drusen) on an exam to help with diagnosis.

This more serious type occurs when new, abnormal blood vessels grow in your macula. Blood and other fluids can leak out from these abnormal vessels to the macula and cause sudden vision loss. This condition can develop anytime in patients with AMD and requires prompt treatment to minimize further vision loss.

AMD is more common in white people, ages 50 and older.

A diet high in saturated fat and processed foods may increase your risk.

People with obesity are more likely to have AMD.

AMD can affect members of the same family.

People with heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are more prone to AMD.

Smoking increases risk of vision loss from AMD.

You identify lines or sections on a grid that look blurry, wavy or broken. This test can be done at home to make sure AMD is not worsening your vision.

You get dilating eye drops to enlarge your pupil so that your eye doctor can examine your macula and retina.

A dye is injected into a vein in your arm, and a special camera tracks the dye as it moves through blood vessels in your retina. The test can help diagnose wet AMD.

This machine quickly scans your retina to provide cross-sectional images of the retina and macula.

This machine quickly scans your retina to provide blood flow information in your macula, similar to fluorescein angiography. However, this test is quicker and no dye is injected. It is sometimes used to diagnose wet AMD.

Eye injections of anti-VEGF medication slow or stop leaking from blood vessels into your macula if you have wet AMD.

Your provider may use a laser to seal or destroy leaking blood vessels in the eye if you have certain type of wet AMD.

Taking a certain combination of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals can reduce your chances of AMD progressing to an advanced stage. Your eye provider may recommend this supplement combination, depending on the severity of your AMD.

In this special laser treatment for wet AMD, a light-sensitive drug is injected into a vein in your arm. The drug makes the abnormal vessels in your macula more sensitive to the laser applied to the macula by your eye doctor.

Losing excess weight, especially around your middle section, can lower your risk of vision loss from AMD.

Eat more fruits, vegetables, beans and fish. Talk to your provider about whether you need supplements.

Being physically active is good for your blood vessels and your eyes.

Take medications to manage high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Wear sunglasses that protect eyes against ultraviolet light.

Talk to your provider about ways to quit smoking.