A Closer Look at Geographic Atrophy
Geographic atrophy (GA) is a constantly progressing eye disease that can lead to permanent vision loss, making it harder to:
- Recognise faces
- Participate in hobbies
- Carry out daily activities
This website provides information, support, and resources to better understand GA and its effects.
GA in focus
GA is the dry form of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). GA is an eye condition that can lead to permanent vision loss including a blurry spot in the centre of your vision, which can make reading and driving difficult, especially in low light or dark places.
Another form of advanced AMD, called “wet” AMD, is distinct from GA where abnormal blood vessels may cause fluid or blood to leak into the macula, resulting in blurred vision.
When you have GA, small yellow deposits of fatty proteins, called drusen, accumulate under the retina and macula. This can send your immune system into overdrive, leading to inflammation, and eventually, the destruction of healthy cells in your macula. While this damage may be small to start, it progresses and forms larger patches, known as lesions, which grow and spread across the retina. As a result, vision worsens and can eventually lead to permanent vision loss.
Watch this video to learn more about what′s going on in your eye when you have GA.
View transcriptClose transcript
Close your eyes.
Let them adjust.
Now, open them.
Notice how the world around you gets clearer as the light pours in.
Your eyes help you navigate the world and connect you with the people and things you love, so it′s important to understand what′s happening if you experience vision changes.
Geographic atrophy, or GA, is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD.
This condition can lead to permanent and irreversible vision loss.
If you′re early in your GA journey, the effects may not be noticeable now, but over time, details could start to look hazy or blurred.
Many things can increase your risk of getting GA, such as your age and lifestyle.
Your family history can make up to seventy percent of your risk of getting GA.
To understand how GA happens, I want you to think about the palms of your hands.
When you′re able to see all the crisscrossing lines and details it′s because of a part of your eye called the retina.
It turns light—and all of the colors and the shapes it captures—into signals that your brain can understand.
Your retina is located in an area at the back of your eye.
Within your retina is a tiny section called the macula. It helps you to process all the fine details of your world clearly.
It′s the retina—and more specifically the macula—where GA affects your vision the most.
When you have GA, excessive debris deposits called drusen can build up in your retina, and lead to the damage of cells.
While this damage may start small, it will progress, as cells continue to die off, larger patches known as lesions can grow and spread across the retina.
If you′ve been living with GA, you might notice that driving at night and reading have become harder.
Straight lines, like telephone poles or those on a piece of paper, may have begun to look wavy or distorted. These are all signs that GA is progressing.
As GA continues to progress, you may notice a blurry spot that appears in the centre of your vision.
As the lesions caused by GA grow larger, its effect on vision worsens, and can eventually lead to permanent vision loss.
If you are experiencing symptoms of GA, know that you aren′t alone: GA affects around 75,000 people across Australia and approximately five million people globally.
Finding resources and a supportive community will be an important step in your GA journey.
Play an active role and stay involved with your vision to help you adapt to life with GA.
Visit LivingwithGA.com.au for information, resources, and helpful ideas for living with GA.
Every person′s experience with GA is unique. Speak with your doctor or optometrist about questions you may have regarding GA and its symptoms.
