Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the gradual breakdown of the macula — the small central area of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. It accounts for around 90% of all AMD and develops slowly, blurring central vision while side vision stays normal. There is no cure for the dry type, but AREDS2 supplements, stopping smoking, and newer injections for advanced geographic atrophy can slow progression, and regular OCT monitoring catches any conversion to the more aggressive wet form early.
What is dry AMD?
Age-related macular degeneration affects the macula, the central part of the retina that lets you read, drive and recognise faces. In dry AMD, tiny yellow deposits called drusen build up under the retina and the light-sensing cells slowly thin and waste away. Because only the central macula is involved, dry AMD does not cause total blindness — your peripheral (navigation) vision is preserved.
Dry AMD is graded as early, intermediate or advanced. Advanced dry AMD is called geographic atrophy, where patches of retinal cells are permanently lost. In a minority of people, dry AMD can convert to wet AMD, where abnormal blood vessels leak fluid — this needs urgent treatment, which is why monitoring matters.
Symptoms of dry AMD
Dry AMD develops slowly and the earliest stages often cause no noticeable symptoms. As it progresses you may notice:
- Blurred or fuzzy central vision that makes reading harder
- A need for brighter light when reading or doing close work
- Difficulty recognising faces
- A pale or blurred patch in the centre of your vision
- Colours appearing less vivid
Sudden distortion — where straight lines look wavy or bent — or a rapid drop in central vision can signal conversion to wet AMD and should be assessed within days.
Noticed your central vision changing? An AMD assessment includes detailed OCT macula imaging to grade the disease and rule out the treatable wet form.
Book an AMD assessmentCauses & risk factors
Dry AMD is driven by ageing changes in the macula, but several factors raise your risk:
- Age over 50 — the single biggest risk factor
- Smoking — the most important modifiable risk; smokers develop AMD earlier and faster
- Family history — genes such as CFH increase susceptibility
- Caucasian heritage and a light iris colour
- A diet low in leafy greens and oily fish, obesity and high blood pressure
- Excessive lifetime UV/sunlight exposure
How dry AMD is diagnosed
Diagnosis is quick and painless, combining a clinical examination with detailed retinal imaging at a single consultant appointment:
- Dilated fundus examination — the consultant examines the macula for drusen and atrophy.
- OCT (optical coherence tomography) — a cross-sectional scan that measures the retinal layers and detects early fluid that would indicate wet AMD.
- Fundus autofluorescence — maps areas of geographic atrophy and tracks progression.
- Amsler grid test — a simple chart that checks for distortion in your central vision.
- OCT angiography — a dye-free scan of the retinal blood vessels where wet AMD is suspected.
Treatment options
There is currently no cure that reverses dry AMD, but the right plan slows progression and protects your remaining vision — see our dry AMD treatment overview for full detail.
- AREDS2 supplements — a specific vitamin and mineral formula shown to reduce the risk of intermediate AMD progressing.
- Lifestyle changes — stopping smoking, a diet rich in leafy greens and oily fish, blood-pressure control and UV protection.
- Geographic-atrophy injections — newer complement-inhibitor treatments can slow the growth of advanced atrophy in selected patients.
- Low-vision support and monitoring — magnifiers, lighting advice, and regular OCT checks to catch any conversion to wet AMD early.