Updated on November 19, 2024.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that causes central vision loss. Central vision is the ability to clearly see objects that are directly in front of the eyes. Reading, driving, recognizing faces, or doing any kind of task that requires attention to detail all rely on central vision.
Wet AMD is an advanced form of AMD. It occurs when new blood vessels grow in the back of the eye. These blood vessels do not function normally, and leak blood and fluid. This causes further damage to the eye and more severe vision loss. It also causes vision loss to occur at a faster rate.
The main treatment for wet AMD is anti-VEGF therapy. These are medications that are injected into the eye to stop blood vessels from leaking. This helps slow the progression of the disease. In some cases, it can improve a person’s vision.
In addition to anti-VEGF therapy, people with wet AMD should take steps to prevent the disease from getting worse and protect their vision. This includes addressing factors that can contribute to worsening AMD and other problems with the eyes—such as quitting smoking (for anyone who smokes), protecting the eyes from the sun, changes to diet and nutrition, and steps to improve cardiovascular health.
Three important numbers to look at are blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Blood glucose
Blood glucose is a sugar that the body gets from the foods a person eats. It is the main source of energy for most cells in the body. It travels to cells via the bloodstream. When the amount of glucose in the blood is too high for too long (a condition called hyperglycemia), it can cause damage to many parts of the body, including the eyes.
Some research suggests that elevated blood glucose levels are associated with AMD. More commonly, hyperglycemia is associated with diabetes, a condition where the body can no longer produce and/or use insulin, a hormone cells need to use glucose. Diabetes can lead to several complications that affect the eyes and cause vision loss.
Cholesterol levels
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that the body needs to make cells, hormones, vitamins, and other substances. Cholesterol levels that are too high contribute to atherosclerosis, also known as arterial plaque, fatty deposits that stick to the inner walls of blood vessels.
Atherosclerosis causes blood vessels to stiffen and narrow. Elevated cholesterol levels are a potential risk factor for AMD, and atherosclerosis is believed to contribute to AMD. In some cases, atherosclerosis can cause the blood vessels that supply the eye to become blocked.
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the amount of force that blood exerts against the inner walls of blood vessels as it travels through the body. Hypertension is a condition where blood pressure is chronically elevated.
Hypertension can cause damage to blood vessels and nerves in the eye. It is considered a risk factor for several eye conditions, including AMD. Some research has found that having hypertension is associated with the progression of AMD into wet AMD.
What should your numbers be?
Talk to your healthcare provider about your test results for blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol. If you need to take steps to lower any of these numbers, ask what those steps should be. Ask how these numbers relate to the health of your eyes, as well as other areas of your health.
Blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels are also important for assessing the risk of type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Even for people who are at low risk for these conditions, tests that check blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels should be a standard part of preventive care.
