Medically Reviewed by: Mid Atlantic Retina Team
Last Updated: 10th August, 2026
Age-related macular degeneration can change the way you see the world. Reading, driving, and recognizing faces all depend on clear central vision, and AMD can make these daily tasks harder. The condition comes in two forms, wet and dry, and knowing which one you have affects the treatment options you have.
At Mid Atlantic Retina, our team helps patients across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware understand AMD and get the best care possible.
Dry AMD is the more common form. Around 85–90% of people with AMD have this type. It develops when small protein deposits called drusen build up under the macula, the part of the eye that gives us our good reading and driving vision. Over time, these drusen can affect the central vision.
Dry AMD has three stages: early, intermediate, and late.
Dry AMD gets worse over years or even decades. Many people keep good vision for their life. Seeing your retina specialist is important to correctly diagnose the stage of AMD, and to help follow you for the rate of change in your eyes.
Wet AMD, also known as neovascular AMD, makes up about 10–15% of AMD cases but is responsible for most cases of sudden and severe central vision loss. It occurs when new abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula (a condition called choroidal neovascularization).
These new vessels are weak and can lead accumulations of blood and fluid, as well as scar tissue to damage the macula. Unlike dry AMD, wet AMD can cause vision changes quickly, sometimes within days or weeks. Early treatment can help not only slow or stop vision loss, but it can even improve the vision for a number of people. Contact us right away if you notice sudden changes in your vision.
| Feature | Dry AMD | Wet AMD |
| Cause | Drusen build up under the macula, causing it to become damage over time | Abnormal blood vessesl grow under the macula and leak blood and fluid, and can create scar tissue |
| Prevalence | 85–90% of AMD cases | Around 10–15% of AMD cases |
| Speed of vision loss | Usually develops slowly over many years. | Quickly, sometimes within days |
| Symptoms | Blurry central vision, trouble seeing in dim light, and needing brighter lights to read | Wavy, blurry, or distorted central vision, or a dark spot in the middle of the vision |
| Diagnostic test | Dilated exam, OCT imaging | Dilated exam, OCT, OCT-A, fluorescein angiography |
| Treatment | AREDS2 supplements, healthy lifestyle choices, and treatments and research programs for GA | Anti-VEGF intravitreal injections (standard of care) and a number of research programs |
| Prognosis | Slower progression; GA can cause central vision loss | Can cause vision loss particularly if not treated; vision can stabilize and often improve with treatment |
The difference between wet and dry macular degeneration becomes most evident in how symptoms appear and progress.
Dry AMD causes vision changes slowly, and you might not even realize your vision has changed at first. Your eye doctor might find changes during a routine exam.
Common symptoms include:
If you have Wet AMD, symptoms you may notice include:
An Amsler grid is a simple tool to look for changes. It’s a grid of straight lines with a dot in the center. Check the grid using one eye a time. If the lines start to look wavy or if parts of the grid start to go missing, call your retina specialist right away.
Both types are diagnosed with a dilated eye exam. Your retina specialist might use different imaging tests to help see what’s happening beneath the surface:
There is no cure for dry AMD, but healthy life choices and treatments can slow it down.
If you have intermediate and sometimes GA, the AREDS2/3 vitamins, which contain a a specific formula vitamins C, E, zinc, and lutein/zeaxanthin (and sometimes B vitamins), can reduce the chance of developing advanced AMD. Healthy habits also help protect your vision. We often encourage patients to:
For patient with GA, newer medicines called complement inhibitors can slow the disease down. They are given as injections in the eye. These medicines work by blocking part of the immune system’s inflammatory response that contributes to tissue breakdown.
The main treatment for wet AMD is anti-VEGF injections into the eye of medications like Eylea, Lucentis, Vabysmo, and Avastin. These medicines help stop abnormal blood vessels from growing and leaking.
Most patients need injections every 4–12 weeks, depending on how their eyes respond. Learn more about how wet AMD is treated.
Some patients may receive photodynamic therapy, thermal laser, or surgical implants but these are less common than anti-VEGF injections.
Our team, along with many of our patients, helped develop many of the current transformational treatments we use every day. At Mid Atlantic Retina we conduct dozens of clinical research programs each year to develop new treatments that will hopefully lead to better vision outcomes, and may last longer, than our current treatments.
Both can cause vision loss. The main difference is often how quickly they affect your vision. Wet AMD progresses faster and causes more severe central vision loss when untreated, but dry AMD (specifically geographic atrophy) can cause permanent central vision loss too.
Neither form is “better” to have. Wet AMD is usually considered more immediately vision-threatening because it can damage your macula so quickly. But without treatment, it can lead to significant vision loss in a matter of weeks. However, with prompt anti-VEGF therapy many people maintain or even improve their vision.
On the other hand, dry AMD’s slower pace might sound less scary, but geographic atrophy causes permanent damage that current treatments can only slow, not reverse. The tissue loss is irreversible, and it can eventually affect your ability to read, drive, or recognize faces.
Both types require close monitoring. The key is to catch changes early and start treatment as soon as possible.
Dry AMD happens when small proteins deposits called drusen build up under the macula over time. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula and leak fluid, causing rapid vision changes. Wet AMD causes more sudden and severe vision loss than Dry AMD.
Wet AMD progresses faster and causes more severe central vision loss when untreated, making it more immediately vision-threatening. However, dry AMD in its advanced form (geographic atrophy) also causes permanent central vision loss. Neither is “worse” nor “better,” and in fact, both require monitoring and appropriate treatment to preserve vision.
Yes, about 10–15% of people with dry AMD particularly those with intermediate or advanced dry AMD may later develop wet AMD. The chronic changes from dry AMD can trigger abnormal blood vessel growth. This is why regular monitoring and daily Amsler grid checks are important for anyone with dry AMD.
Dry AMD is managed with AREDS2/3 supplements, lifestyle changes, and newer complement inhibitor injections for geographic atrophy. Wet AMD is treated primarily with anti-VEGF intravitreal injections that block abnormal blood vessel growth and reduce leakage.
If you’re in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware and have concerns about your macular health, find a Mid Atlantic Retina location near you to schedule a comprehensive evaluation. Take the first step toward protecting your central vision for years to come.
Dr Brett Foxman, Dr Scott Foxman, Dr Thomas Margolis and Dr Daniel Connors will continue to treat patients at the Northfield, Vineland and Cape May Court House locations.
