No treatment exists for dry macular degeneration. However, a combination of vitamins, antioxidants, and zinc may slow the progression of the disease. This combination of vitamins is often called the "AREDS" formula. Smokers should not use this treatment.

The recommended supplements contain:

• 500 milligrams of vitamin C
• 400 International Units of beta-carotene
• 80 milligrams of zinc
• 2 milligrams of copper

Although there is no cure for wet AMD, treatments may include:

• Laser surgery (laser photocoagulation) -- a small beam of light destroys the abnormal blood vessels.
• Photodynamic therapy -- a light activates a drug that is injected into your body to destroy leaking blood vessels.
• Special medications that slow the formation of new blood vessels in the eye (anti-angiogenesis, anti-VEGF therapy) -- drugs such as bevacizumab (Avastin) and ranibizumab (Lucentis) are injected into the eye to stabilize or improve vision. This is a painless process.

Low-vision aids (such as special lenses) and therapy can help you use the vision that you have more effectively, and improve your quality of life.

AMD Alliance International -- (877) AMD-7171 -- www.amdalliance.org.

Most people with mild dry macular degeneration will not have disabling central vision loss. However, there is no way to predict who will progress to a more severe form of the disease.

The wet form of macular degeneration often leads to significant vision loss.

Although macular degeneration can cause people to lose the ability to read, drive a car, and recognize faces that are not very close-up, it never causes complete blindness. This disorder results in the loss of central vision only -- macular degeneration cannot cause peripheral vision loss.

Nearly everyone with macular degeneration can get around, eat, perform personal hygiene, and do other routine activities without too much difficulty.

Loss of central vision may interfere with many daily activities, such as reading, working on the computer, or driving. You may need extra light or magnification to perform many of your normal activities.

If you have AMD, your health care provider may recommend that you check your vision every day on an Amsler grid. Call your provider immediately if the lines appear wavy, or you notice any other changes in your vision.