What do “dry” and “wet” actually mean?
The names are colloquial: the eye is not literally dry or wet. Doctors describe the stage of AMD and whether abnormal new blood vessels are present.
| Feature | Dry AMD | Wet AMD |
|---|---|---|
| Medical terms | Non-neovascular or non-exudative AMD. The advanced form with loss of retinal tissue is called geographic atrophy (atrophic AMD). | Neovascular AMD; when vessels leak, exudative AMD. “Neovascular” means new blood vessels. |
| What happens? | Drusen (deposits beneath the retina), pigment changes and, in advanced disease, patches of tissue loss. | Abnormal vessels grow beneath or within the retina and may leak fluid or bleed. |
| Effect on vision | Often no symptoms early; later changes are usually gradual. Geographic atrophy can cause major central vision loss. | New distortion or central blur can develop quickly. Untreated leakage or bleeding can severely damage vision. |
| Treatment | Monitoring and risk reduction; supplements for selected stages. Some geographic atrophy can now be treated with injections. | Usually anti-VEGF injections to suppress abnormal vessel activity and leakage. These differ from geographic-atrophy injections. |
Does dry AMD turn into wet AMD?
AMD usually begins with early or intermediate “dry” changes. A commonly quoted estimate is that about 10–15% of people with AMD develop the wet form.
People often call this a “conversion”, but wet AMD develops on top of the underlying AMD. The earlier changes do not simply disappear or become leaking vessels. Geographic atrophy and wet AMD can coexist in the same eye. Wet AMD may also be the first diagnosis, if earlier changes were not detected.
Can dry AMD now be treated with injections?
Yes, some people with geographic atrophy may be considered for treatment. Newer medicines called complement inhibitors are given by intravitreal injection — an injection into the eye. They can slow the enlargement of atrophy, but do not restore tissue or vision already lost. They are not a treatment for ordinary drusen or all dry AMD.
Treatment involves repeated injections and weighing benefit against risks, including wet AMD, inflammation and the small risk of infection after an injection. Read more about geographic atrophy and its treatment.
Which vision changes need urgent review?
New wavy lines, a central blurred patch or a new grey or blank spot need urgent assessment by your eye doctor. These changes do not prove that AMD is wet, but should not wait for your next routine review. Other macular conditions, such as an epiretinal membrane, can also distort vision.
If you also have cataract, our article on cataract surgery and lens choice with AMD explains how the two conditions affect vision.