Dry AMD
There is no specific treatment for dry AMD. As such, it does not warrant urgent referral to an ophthalmologist. If a patient has new symptoms and signs that suggest dry AMD, they can be referred routinely for confirmation of the diagnosis.
If you see abnormalities in a patient's eyes and are unsure of the diagnosis, it is best to seek ophthalmological review. Alternatively, many optometrists provide a service where they can perform a slit lamp examination to confirm if the patient has dry AMD. Dry AMD can change to wet AMD (see below). If this change is suspected, urgent referral to an ophthalmologist is warranted.
If the patient is struggling to see, it may be beneficial for them to have their eyes tested in order to make sure that they are wearing the optimal strength of glasses. An optometrist should be able to refract them to check this. They may benefit from the use of low vision aids such as magnifiers to help them to read.
Most hospital eye services include a low vision service for patients who are struggling to cope with poor vision secondary to dry AMD. This is a multidisciplinary service involving optometrists, nurses and ophthalmologists.
Wet AMD
Urgent referral if the above symptoms and signs are present. Any delay in referral could potentially result in a poorer outcome for the patient. In the hospital, the patient will be examined by the ophthalmologist, and have imaging such as optical coherence tomography scans and fluorescein angiography to confirm the diagnosis.
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