What is the Difference Between Wet and Dry Macular Degeneration?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between wet and dry macular degeneration lies in the cause of the macular distortion and the severity of the condition. Here are the key differences:
- Wet AMD: This form of macular degeneration is caused by the growth and leakage of abnormal blood vessels beneath the macula, which can lead to rapid vision loss in one or both eyes. Wet AMD is less common but more severe than dry AMD, accounting for 10-15% of cases. Treatment options for wet AMD include Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) drugs, which can be injected into the eye to stop the bleeding or leaking of abnormal blood vessels.
- Dry AMD: This form of macular degeneration is the result of aging and the thinning of the macula over time. Dry AMD is more common, accounts for 85-90% of cases, and is usually less visually debilitating than wet AMD. The appearance of many yellow deposits, called drusen, is typically a sign of dry AMD. Drusen contain waste products and lipids deposited from the cells of the retina. There is currently no FDA-approved treatment for dry AMD, but some promising clinical trials suggest that certain nutrients may help slow its progression.
In summary, wet AMD is characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels, leading to more rapid and severe vision loss, while dry AMD is caused by the thinning of the macula and is generally less severe. Treatment options are available for wet AMD, whereas there are currently no approved treatments for dry AMD.
Comparative Table: Wet vs Dry Macular Degeneration
There are two types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD): wet and dry. Here is a table summarizing the differences between wet and dry macular degeneration:
| Feature | Wet AMD | Dry AMD |
|---|---|---|
| Progression | Rapid loss of central vision over weeks to months | Slow progression |
| Vision Loss | More severe vision loss or legal blindness | Mild to severe central vision loss |
| Characteristics | Abnormal blood vessels grow into the subretinal space from the choroidal circulation, leading to fluid accumulation and bleeding in the macula | Subretinal drusen deposits, atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), pigment epithelial detachments, and subretinal pigment epithelial clumping |
| Prevalence | Less common, about 10% of AMD cases | More common, about 90% of AMD cases |
| Advanced Stage | Always considered an advanced stage | Develops in stages, with geographic atrophy being the advanced stage |
| Treatment | More treatable than dry AMD | Less treatable than wet AMD |
Wet AMD is characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina in the macular region, causing fluid accumulation and bleeding in the macula. On the other hand, dry AMD is characterized by subretinal drusen deposits, atrophy of the RPE, and other changes that develop in stages. Wet AMD is less common but leads to more rapid and severe vision loss than dry AMD.
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