About AMD
A leading cause of vision loss
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), also known as macular degeneration, is a degenerative eye disease. As the condition progresses, AMD can cause permanent and irreversible loss of central vision, or the images you see directly in front of you. Macular degeneration can progress slowly over several years, or strike quickly and severely reduce central vision in months or even weeks.
AMD affects the macula — the central part of the retina at the back of the eye that helps you see fine details.
By damaging the macula, AMD reduces colour perception and contrast, sometimes impairing your ability to to drive, read, or recognize faces. However, peripheral, or side vision remains functional.
Could you be at risk?
More than 1 million Canadians, the majority of them over age 50, suffer varying degrees of vision loss from macular degeneration, making it the number one cause of vision loss in Canada. In fact, with an aging population, the number of people with the disease is expected to double in the next 25 years.
