Wet Macular Degeneration

Wet age-related macular degeneration (WMD) is the advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), a condition that can cause permanent central vision loss. WMD is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration. It happens when age-related changes in your eyes worsen and cause new blood vessels to grow and leak underneath the retina.

When you have WMD, new vessels grow and disrupt existing retinal tissue, causing damage and vision loss. The leaked blood can also cause scar tissue to form, further distorting and damaging the macula.

Over time, the leaked blood and scar tissue can cause permanent vision loss. However, early detection and treatment can prevent that kind of permanent damage or stop it from further damaging your vision. If you notice vision changes that could be WMD, you need to see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

The formal name for this condition is exudative (pronounced either “EX-yoo-dat-iv” or “EGS-yoo-dat-iv”) macular degeneration or neovascular macular degeneration. “Exudate” is a medical term for leaked fluid, which is where this condition’s formal name comes from.

How common is this condition?

Your odds of developing ARMD increase with age, and it’s the leading cause of vision loss for adults over 60. About 10% to 20% of ARMD cases are the wet form, meaning between 10 million and 20 million adults worldwide have WMD. Between 1 and 2 million of those cases are in the U.S.