Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Rapid Access Clinic

St Pauls Eye-Ophthalmology Royal Only 

You have been referred to the AMD Rapid Access Clinic of St Paul’s Eye Hospital because changes were noticed at the back of your eye during your examination.

These changes may be a sign of a condition called Macular Degeneration. The information below tells you why you have been referred and what to expect at your visit.

What is Macular Degeneration?

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a disease of the macula, which is the central part of the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye called the retina. It can lead to loss of central vision. When the macula is affected, blurring and distortion of the central vision occurs interfering with reading, watching TV and other important daily activities.

AMD occurs in two forms:

• Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in your macula. They can leak and bleed, causing damage to your vision.
• Dry AMD occurs when the light sensitive tissue of your macula slowly deteriorates, gradually affecting vision.

Occasionally Macular Degeneration (MD) occurs due to other conditions of your eye such as short sightedness or different types of inflammation.

What happens at the Rapid Access Clinic?

Your vision will be tested so please bring along your distance glasses if you wear them.

You will be given eye drops to dilate (enlarge) your pupils, so that detailed images of your retina can be obtained.

The benefit in having these drops is that it allows us to gain these detailed images of your retina, without the drops we may not be able to gain good enough images to detect AMD a sight threatening eye disease.

Do the eye drops have any effects?

The drops may cause some stinging for a few seconds.

• After about 20 minutes your sight will be blurred, and it will be difficult to focus on objects near to you.

Please note these eye drops may affect your vision for several hours and this could affect your ability to drive. Do not drive to or from your appointment. You may wish to bring someone else with you, for example a family member or a neighbour or friend.

Photographs and scans of your retina’s will be examined carefully for the changes of wet AMD while you are at the clinic. Depending on the results, further detailed photographs may be necessary.

This is called Fluorescein Angiography and involves having an injection of a yellow dye into a vein in your arm and a series of photographs taken of the back of your eye. For further information please ask for a copy of the patient information leaflet Fluorescein Angiography PIF 537.

Please bring a current list of your tablets and medicines. You will be asked about your general health, allergies, and any previous eye problems. You may be at the clinic for a couple of hours for these investigations. Please ensure that you can attend for this length of time, so that we can complete your investigations.