AMD and me

When I went to UMIST in 1955 to study to become an ophthalmic optician the 'yellow spot' (or macula lutea) was an item covered only in anatomy lectures it did not feature in physiology. It was accepted as existing but had no recognised purpose.

Seven years ago I developed the symptoms of wet AMD in my right eye. At that time I did not have much in-depth knowledge of this disease. I had been retired for more than 12 years. My fellowship of the College of Optometrists was allowed to lapse. I no longer read Optician or any papers on optometry and related subjects. Even the term wet AMD was strange to me. My 16th edition (1978) of Parsons' Diseases of the Eye referred me to 'Junius-Kuhnt's Disease', on the same page as, but quite separate from, 'senile macular degeneration'. At the age of 66 I could feel moderately offended by acquiring a senile or age-related prefix but I was forced to take a renewed interest in diseases of the eye.