Which statement accurately describes the two types of macular degeneration?

• A. Dry (atrophic) degeneration involves drusen; wet (neovascular) involves abnormal vessels.
• B. Dry progression leads to rapid vision restoration.
• C. Wet degeneration is less dangerous than dry and does not require treatment.
• D. Macular degeneration affects peripheral vision primarily.

Answer: (A)

Macular degeneration comes in two main forms: dry (atrophic) and wet (neovascular). In the dry form, drusen—yellow extracellular deposits between the retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch’s membrane—build up and lead to gradual thinning and atrophy of the macula, causing slow, progressive central vision loss. In the wet form, abnormal blood vessels grow from the choroid into the retina (choroidal neovascularization), and these vessels leak fluid and blood, causing rapid distortion or loss of central vision and often scarring if untreated. This description—drusen involvement in dry degeneration and abnormal vessel growth in wet degeneration—accurately captures the fundamental difference between the two types.

The other statements aren’t correct. Dry progression does not restore vision quickly; it tends to worsen gradually. Wet degeneration is more dangerous and typically requires treatment (such as anti-VEGF injections) rather than being left alone. Macular degeneration primarily affects central vision, not peripheral vision, which is why peripheral sight is usually preserved.