Before symptoms are noticed, age-related macular degeneration can often be detected during an eye exam. During the early stages of AMD, small drusen or waste deposits are noticeable on the surface of the retina. A change in color or pigment can be seen on the macula.
When AMD progresses past the initial stage, symptoms such as blurry or fuzzy vision, illusion of straight lines appearing wavy, illusion of objects appearing smaller than they really are, a gray, dark, or empty area in the center of the visual field, and sometimes paler color vision are noticed.
Make sure to see your healthcare professional when changes in your vision are occurring. Do not ignore them as some forms of macular degeneration can quickly progress and can still respond to treatment if detected early.
Stargardt disease can be diagnosed in children and teenagers having trouble with their eyesight. This can also happen in early adulthood. Similar to adults with age-related macular degeneration, children diagnosed with Stargardt disease also have problems with central vision acuity.
