As we age, our eyesight often gets worse. One of the most common causes of this vision loss is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). People with geographic atrophy — the advanced stage of dry AMD — experience loss of central vision.

If you have geographic atrophy, it can affect your daily life. Worsening visual acuity (sharpness) and blind spots in the center of your field of vision can make it difficult to read and drive, among other things.

This article shares seven tips for living with geographic atrophy. These life hacks may help slow the progression of vision loss and improve your well-being.

What Is Geographic Atrophy?

Geographic atrophy is the most advanced stage of dry age-related macular degeneration. In this phase of the disease, the cells in the macula (the central part of the retina) start to die off. The macula controls whether your vision is sharp or blurry. Unlike wet AMD, where vision loss can be sudden and severe, geographic atrophy causes the macula to gradually break down over time.

Geographic atrophy affects about 20 percent of people with AMD and usually affects both eyes. People with this condition often develop blind spots in the middle of their vision. Peripheral vision (the sides of your visual field) isn’t affected.

Since geographic atrophy tends to progress slowly over time, it’s important to be proactive.

Symptoms of geographic atrophy can be easy to miss at first because they develop slowly. But over time, you may begin to notice symptoms such as:

• Gradual loss of central vision
• Blurred or distorted vision
• Difficulty seeing in low light
• Worsening color vision
• Trouble with driving, reading, recognizing faces, or other activities that rely on central vision

If you start noticing any of these symptoms, it’s important to visit an eye doctor, called an ophthalmologist. There are now medications your doctor can prescribe to slow the disease.

Tips for Living With Geographic Atrophy

Since geographic atrophy progresses slowly over time, it’s important to take action early. If you notice changes in your vision, getting an eye exam is a smart first step to slow vision loss. Here are some other steps you can take that may help improve your quality of life with geographic atrophy.

1. Try Low-Vision Rehabilitation

Low-vision specialists work with people whose vision is significantly reduced. They can test your visual impairments and suggest assistive devices such as magnifiers, glasses, or electronic devices. A low-vision specialist can also teach you tips for living with vision loss that can make your daily life easier, like using a “next-best spot” in your visual field when you have a blind spot.

“I will be receiving some low-vision therapy. I'm hopeful this will help me return to things I love such as reading, puzzling, bird watching, cooking, and needlework.”

— A myAMDteam member

When you receive low-vision therapy, you may work with occupational therapists, social workers, and specialists in orientation, mobility, and assistive devices. It’s usually helpful to begin low-vision therapy as soon as possible after vision loss.

One myAMDteam member shared, “I will be receiving some low-vision therapy. I’m hopeful this will help me return to things I love such as reading, puzzling, bird watching, cooking, and needlework.” —

2. Take AREDS2 Supplements

Nutritional supplements containing the AREDS2 formula may help you retain more vision. Two major studies (AREDS and AREDS2) showed that these supplements may help slow progression of dry AMD.

At first, the clinical trials showed no benefit from AREDS2 supplements in people with geographic atrophy. But after taking a closer look at the results, researchers found that people whose vision loss started away from the fovea (the center of the macula) did benefit from AREDS2 supplements. In those cases, the supplements slowed the progression of the disease toward the fovea by about 55 percent over three years.

Geographic atrophy often begins outside the fovea. Taking AREDS2 supplements may help delay loss of central vision by slowing down how fast the disease spreads to the fovea.

One member shared, “I had my first injection two weeks ago. I have modified my diet and started a regimen of AREDS2 supplements.”

AREDS2 supplements contain:

• Lutein
• Vitamin E
• Zinc oxide
• Cupric oxide
• Zeaxanthin

3. Adapt Your Home

Vision loss can increase the risk of falls or injury. Making small changes around your home can make your daily life easier and safer. A low-vision specialist can guide you, but here are some ideas to get started:

• Improve indoor lighting to reduce shadows and glare.
• Use labels, textures, or bump dots to help organize and identify items
• Try magnifiers for reading or hobbies.
• Use voice-activated technology or devices designed for people with visual impairments.
• Set up screens (phones, tablets, TVs) with bold colors, large fonts, and high-contrast.
• Choose activities that can be modified for vision loss, such as listening to audiobooks instead of reading.
• Use a cane or other mobility aids if needed.

4. Protect Your Eyes From the Sun

Geographic atrophy damages the retina, so it’s important for people with this eye condition to protect their eyes from further damage. This includes shielding them from ultraviolet rays — UVA and UVB. This is important all year round, as water, snow, and sand can all reflect the sun.

Some steps you can take to protect your eyes include:

• Staying in the shade when possible
• Wearing a hat or visor to keep sun out of your eyes
• Wearing sunglasses that block UV rays
• Using mineral sunscreen around your eyes and eyelids
• Avoiding being outside when the UV index is very high (usually midday)

5. Eat Healthy and Exercise

Some research suggests that a healthy diet may help to prevent AMD and slow its progression. In particular, the Mediterranean diet — which includes vegetables, fruits, fish, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats like olive oil — has shown benefits for people with geographic atrophy.

“I’m trying to get my diet on track,” a myAMDteam member wrote. “The diet has been the hardest old habit to break.”

Exercising regularly is also helpful. Pick a physical activity that you enjoy and that you can commit to doing regularly. If vision loss affects your mobility, talk to your low-vision specialist. They can help you work through balance problems or other mobility issues and may be able to set you up with an adaptive exercise group.

6. Stop Smoking or Vaping

Smoking is bad for your eye health. Smoking causes the retina to experience oxidative stress — cell damage that occurs when free radical molecules outnumber antioxidants. Because of this, smoking increases your risk of developing many eye conditions, including macular degeneration. If you already have AMD, smoking can make it worsen more quickly.

One myAMDteam member shared: “I’m making some progress in quitting smoking. It takes time when you experience a lot of anxiety.”

If you smoke or vape, talk to your healthcare provider about ways to quit. There are tools and resources that can help.

7. Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly

Seeing your ophthalmologist or retina specialist regularly is one of the best ways to manage geographic atrophy. Your retina specialist can track any changes and adjust your treatment plan if needed. Be sure to schedule a visit with your provider if you notice a sudden change in your vision, a new blind spot, or pain.

There’s good news — in 2023, the first medications to treat geographic atrophy were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These are eye injections that may help slow the disease. Ask your retina specialist if these medications could be right for you.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myAMDteam, the social network for people with age-related macular degeneration and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with age-related macular degeneration.

Do you have geographic atrophy? Do you have any tips for others on how to manage vision changes? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.