Stage 1
At this stage, there are no symptoms present and vision is clear.
Stage 2
Patients begin to notice a fuzziness or a blind spot in their central vision. Initially, the blind spot
may appear to be
light grey.
Stage 3
As AMD progresses, the blind spot becomes more dark and can expand. The patient may see haziness around
the blind spot
and translucent shapes may begin to form.
Stage 4
In stage 4, the blind spot has become more dark and larger. More translucent shapes may be visible and
may grow and
become darker.
Stage 5
Patients in the later stages of AMD have difficulty doing normal activities due to the large blind spot
that has grown
in their central vision. The visual field may also contain larger, darker shapes.
Macular degeneration (AMD) is an age-related condition that leads to vision loss in the center of the field
of vision.
It is one of the leading causes of vision loss in Americans 65 and older. AMD is a progressive condition
that slowly
causes vision loss. There are two forms of AMD: dry and wet. Most patients have the dry form of AMD which
occurs as part
of the normal aging process. Wet AMD occurs when new blood vessels begin to grow under the retina and leak
fluid and
blood, which can cause permanent damage and loss of vision. Treatment for both forms of AMD are available to
help slow
the progression of the disease.
Stage 1
At this stage, there are no symptoms present and vision is clear.
Stage 2
As diabetic retinopathy begins to progress, patients may see dark shapes in their visual field. An
overall dimming of
vision may occur.
Stage 3
With the continued progression of diabetic retinopathy, the dark shapes grow larger and spread making it
hard for
patients to see their surroundings.
Stage 4
In the later stages, there is less clear vision as the dark shapes and dimming have taken over the
majority of the
visual field.
Stage 5
In this advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy, there is very little clear vision. What vision is left is
dim and
blurry. The visual field is covered by dark shapes.
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high glucose levels damage the blood vessels in the eye, causing them to
swell and
leak. Most diabetics have some degree of diabetic retinopathy. Typically there are no common symptoms
present during the
early stages of the disease. As it progresses, patients can experience blurriness, vision loss and possible
blindness if
the condition is not treated. Diabetics can help prevent the development and progression of diabetic
retinopathy by
carefully managing their blood sugar level and blood pressure. Medical treatments are available.
Stage 1
At this stage, there are no symptoms present and vision is clear.
Stage 2
In this stage, a little cloudiness occurs and may affect a small area of the lens so blurriness and
vision loss is not
noticeable.
Stage 3
As the cataract grows, it clouds more of the lens and begins to limit the amount of light passing through
the lens.
Symptoms become more noticeable.
Stage 4
As the progression continues, the cataracts grow larger and thicker. Vision is distorted by cloudiness
and the dotting
effect, making it difficult for the patient to see clear objects.
Stage 5
At this point, the cloudiness of the cataracts has caused blind spots in the visual field, leading to the
majority of
vision being obscured.
A cataract is a gradual clouding of the natural lens of the eye, which can cause one’s vision to become
blurry. They
affect over half of all adults by age 80. Symptoms of cataracts include blurred vision, reduced depth
perception,
sensitivity to glare, diminished color perception and poor night vision. Surgery is recommended to remove
cataracts.
Cataract surgery is one of the most successful and life-improving surgical procedures performed.
Stage 1
At this stage, there are no symptoms present and vision is clear.
Stage 2
In the early stages, the patient may experience darkening in their peripheral (side) vision.
Stage 3
As glaucoma progresses, the darkening continues to grow affecting the peripheral vision - making patients
depend more on
their central vision. This is called “tunnel” vision.
Stage 4
In the later stages, the patient has lost most, if not all, peripheral vision and their center vision is
now affected.
Stage 5
The patient may only have a small part of their center vision left. Complete blindness is possible at
this last stage.
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, and chances of suffering glaucoma increases
with age. It
occurs when excess fluid builds up in the eye, causing the pressure in the eye to elevate to high levels.
The optic
nerve becomes damaged, which serves to send the images from the eye to the brain. While there is no cure for
glaucoma,
many medications and procedures exist that can help to slow the disease and prevent blindness, especially
when treated
early.