In the video above Dr. Imran Haq explains what Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is and how you can manage it.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision. It usually first affects people in their 50s and 60s.

• It does not cause total blindness. But it can make everyday activities like reading and recognising faces difficult.

• Without treatment, your vision may get worse. This can happen gradually over several years ("dry AMD"), or quickly over a few weeks or months ("wet AMD").

• The exact cause is unknown. It's been linked to smoking, high blood pressure, being overweight and having a family history of AMD.

AMD affects the middle part of your vision, not the edges (peripheral vision).

You can get it in 1 eye or both.

AMD can make things like reading, watching TV, driving or recognising faces difficult.

Other symptoms include:

• seeing straight lines as wavy or crooked

• objects looking smaller than normal

• colours seeming less bright than they used to

• seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)

AMD is not painful and does not affect the appearance of your eyes.

Sometimes AMD may be found during a routine eye test before you have symptoms.

Managing amd

Treatment depends on the type of AMD you have.

• Dry AMD – there's no treatment, but vision aids can help reduce the effect on your life. Read about living with AMD.

• Wet AMD – you may need regular eye injections and, very occasionally, a light treatment called photodynamic therapy, to stop your vision getting worse.