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In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Stevie Nicks revealed that she has been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD, a common eye disease that can cause blurred vision or blind spots.

Macular degeneration occurs when the macula, a small spot near the center of the retina that is necessary for sharp central vision and allows us to see objects straight in front of us, begins to shrink.

AMD is the most common cause of vision loss in one or both eyes in people age 50 and older.

Nicks is 76.

As AMD progresses, a blurry area near the center of vision is a common symptom. Over time, the blurred area may become larger or blank spots may appear in your central field of vision. Objects may also not appear as bright as they once did.

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Does Stevie Nicks suffer from macular degeneration?

Yes. There are two types of macular degeneration: dry and wet or neovascular. Between 80 and 90% of the 20 million AMD patients in the United States have the dry variant.

In wet macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels develop under the retina and macula. Neovascular means that these are new vessels. Blood and fluid often leak from these blood vessels. Due to the accumulation of fluid, a bulge forms in the macula.

It is possible to have both dry and wet macular degeneration in the same eye, and either condition may occur first.

Nicks suffers from wet macular degeneration, which is far rarer, more severe and often progresses more quickly.

“I was diagnosed with this thing called wet macular degeneration a year and a half ago, and it’s not a good thing,” the Phoenix-born singer revealed to Rolling Stone.

“I saw all these colors, big purple things. I had, like, LSD trips. And I say, “I don’t take acid, so I don’t understand what this is.” Now I have to get an injection in each of my eyes every six, seven, eight, nine weeks. It will be like this for the rest of my life.”

When Nicks was diagnosed with AMD, she decided it was time to focus on her visual art while she still could, telling Rolling Stone, “Suddenly I’m like, ‘You know what? “You have to finish these drawings because what if you start losing your eyesight? I haven’t drawn in years… but my drawings are just as important to me as my songs.”

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What is the main cause of wet macular degeneration?

Age is a major risk factor for wet macular degeneration. The disease most commonly occurs after the age of 60, but can also occur earlier.

According to the National Eye Institute, other risk factors include:

Smoke. Research shows that smoking doubles the risk of AMD.
race. AMD is more common in Caucasians than in African Americans or Hispanics/Latinos.
Family history and genetics. People with a family history of AMD are at higher risk. According to the National Eye Institute, as of 2015, researchers had identified nearly 20 genes that may influence the risk of developing AMD, and many more genetic risk factors are suspected. However, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends against routine genetic testing for AMD, and insurance generally does not cover such testing.

Behind the music:How Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty came to record “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.”

Symptoms of wet macular degeneration

AMD has few symptoms in the early and intermediate stages. Only a comprehensive dilated eye exam can detect AMD. If you are at risk because of your age, family history, or lifestyle, do not wait for your vision to change before getting screened for AMD.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, people with late-stage AMD may experience blurred vision, dark spots or floaters, reduced color vision, and other symptoms.

Not everyone with early AMD will develop late AMD. In people who have early AMD in one eye and no signs of AMD in the other eye, about 5 percent will develop advanced AMD after 10 years. In people who have early AMD in both eyes, about 14 percent will develop late AMD in at least one eye after 10 years.

With instant detection, you can take action to reduce the risk of vision loss.

Treatment of wet macular degeneration

The following treatments for wet macular degeneration are based on information from the National Eye Institute.

One way to slow the progression of neovascular AMD is to inject medication into the eye, as Nicks is currently doing. In neovascular AMD, abnormally high amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor are secreted in the eyes. VEGF is a protein that promotes the growth of new abnormal blood vessels. Anti-VEGF injection therapy blocks this growth.

This treatment may require multiple monthly injections. There are several anti-VEGF medications available. They vary in cost and frequency of injections.

Another option is photodynamic therapy. This is a laser treatment of selected areas of the retina. First, the patient is injected with a medication called verteporfin into a vein in the arm. The drug is absorbed by new, growing blood vessels. The ophthalmologist then shines a laser beam into the patient’s eye to activate the medication in the new abnormal blood vessels while sparing the normal ones.

Once activated, the drug closes the new blood vessels, slowing their growth and slowing the rate of vision loss. This procedure is less common than anti-VEGF injections and is often used in combination with it for certain forms of neovascular AMD.

Some cases of wet macular degeneration are treated with laser surgery, although this is less common than other treatments. This involves directing an intense “hot” laser at the abnormal blood vessels to destroy them.

This laser is not the same as that used in photodynamic therapy and may be referred to as a “cold” laser.

This treatment is more likely to be used when blood vessel growth is limited to a compact area in the eye, away from the center of the macula, that can be easily targeted with the laser.

Laser treatment can destroy surrounding healthy tissue, often resulting in a small blind spot where the laser has scarred the retina. In some cases, vision may be worse immediately after surgery than before. But surgery can also help prevent more serious vision loss from occurring years later.

Dietary supplements can slow the progression of the disease.

Since 2007, Ed has covered popular music for The Republic, reviewing festivals and concerts, interviewing legends, covering the local scene and more. He did the same thing for more than a decade in Pittsburgh. Follow him on X and Instagram @edmasley and on Facebook as Ed Masley. Email him at [email protected].

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