Does your vision seem to be blurring and dimming more over time? Often, age-related eye conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts are to blame for these types of vision changes. But is it possible to be affected by both at the same time?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts are common in older adults. However, the ways in which they disrupt vision are different. Since they often develop around the same time in life, it’s important to understand how the two conditions might overlap and how that may affect treatment.

Here’s what you need to know about AMD and cataracts.

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How Are Cataracts Different From AMD?

Both cataracts and macular degeneration are eye conditions that usually develop in older people. Cataracts are most common in people 60 years and older, while people over 50 have the highest risk of developing AMD. However, there are also important differences that separate these two eye conditions.

Cataracts and AMD Affect the Eye Differently

Cataracts develop in the lens of the eye, which works to reflect and focus light. Cloudiness in this part of the eye can lead to generally blurry or dimmed vision, as well as issues related to lights.

AMD happens in the macula — a specific part of the retina. Your macula lets you see the fine details of things in your central vision (right in front of you). This area of the eye is what allows you to read text and recognize the faces of people you know.

People with AMD experience gradual damage or wearing down of the macula. Over time, breakdown of the macula can cause changes to central vision, such as:

• Having unclear, blurry vision directly in front of you
• Seeing wavy or bendy lines instead of straight lines
• Seeing a blind spot or darkened area in the middle of your field of vision
• Having trouble reading or with activities like driving that rely on being able to see fine details

Cataracts and AMD Have Different Causes

Most cataracts are caused by age-related changes to proteins found in the lens. Typically, these proteins start to change around age 40. Symptoms usually develop slowly, with most people noticing changes to their vision after age 60.

Dry macular degeneration — the most common type of AMD — is caused by proteins called drusen. These proteins collect beneath the macula. Over time, these deposits damage the macula.

The wet form of AMD is less common. It happens when irregular blood vessels grow below the retina and leak fluid, which damages the macula.

With dry AMD, central vision loss tends to happen slowly. Unlike the dry form, wet macular degeneration can cause central vision to worsen rapidly.

Cataracts and AMD Are Treated Differently

Most cataracts can be treated successfully with surgery — in fact, more than 90 percent of people report the procedure improved their vision.

The surgery restores clear vision by removing the cataract. During the procedure, a permanent, artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted where the natural lens used to be.

Symptoms of mild cataracts may be relieved by low vision aids, such as new eyeglasses, magnifiers, or light adjustments. Without treatment, cataracts can cause severe vision loss.

In contrast, AMD can’t be easily reversed. The goal of AMD treatment is to slow the rate of damage and reduce symptoms. Treatment options for AMD include nutritional supplements, laser and light therapies, and eye injections.

Can You Have Cataracts and AMD at the Same Time?

Yes, it’s possible to have both cataracts and AMD. In fact, it’s common for older people to have both at the same time.

Older age isn’t the only thing that raises your risk of developing both cataracts and AMD. Other shared risk factors include smoking and not following a healthy diet.

Does Having Both Conditions Affect How They’re Treated?

Your treatment will depend on which of your conditions is having more of an effect on your vision. To evaluate this, your provider may use:

• A slit lamp — This allows your ophthalmologist to look at your lens and evaluate how severe your cataract is.
• A potential acuity meter — This light-based test can pass through cataracts, which helps your doctor determine how likely cataract surgery is to improve your vision.
• Retinal photographs —These allow a retina specialist to examine the level of damage from AMD. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is another common retinal imaging method.

Based on the results of your exams, your doctor may recommend you try new glasses or low vision magnifiers or have cataract surgery. If your cataracts impair your doctor’s ability to monitor your AMD, they’ll likely recommend you have them removed.

People with wet AMD may need to wait until after abnormal blood vessels are controlled with medications before having cataract surgery.

Is It Safe To Have Cataract Surgery With Macular Degeneration?

Cataract surgery is one of the safest surgical procedures. Although serious complications like infections and retinal detachment are possible, they happen rarely. Moreover, these complications often respond well to early treatment.

“My retinal doctor says I need cataracts removed now from both eyes … kind of concerned,” one myAMDteam member shared.

Another member replied, “The surgery is quick and painless … I resumed my normal activities the day after surgery. Post-op vision was considerably better in both eyes.”

Cataract surgery is usually a short, painless procedure that people bounce back from quickly. Eye tenderness after surgery is often mild and improved by over-the-counter pain relievers.

If both of your eyes are affected by cataracts, your doctor may suggest you have cataract surgery on the eye with more severe AMD first.

Can Cataract Surgery Make AMD Worse?

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more research is needed to determine the answer. Right now, conflicting evidence exists about how cataract surgery affects AMD progression.

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 found that people with AMD who had cataract surgery weren’t more likely to experience worsening AMD than those who didn’t have the procedure. However, another study found that the risk of AMD progression increased in those who had cataract surgery after five years.

For people without AMD, cataract surgery hasn’t been shown to increase the risk of developing AMD down the line.

Symptoms of severe cataracts can sometimes mask those of AMD, so some people might not notice AMD symptoms until after their cataracts are removed.

“I had cataract surgery in both eyes, and that’s when they discovered my AMD,” one myAMDteam member said. “The surgery did clear up some of the haziness, but lines are very wavy.”

In general, the amount of benefit from surgery depends on the severity of both conditions. In people with late-stage AMD and significant cataracts, surgery may improve overall quality of life. However, people with AMD and mild cataracts usually don’t benefit much from cataract surgery.

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On myAMDteam, people share their experiences with age-related macular degeneration, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Do you have cataracts and AMD? Let others know in the comments below.