Geographic Atrophy - A New Diagnosis?

The standard definition of geographic atrophy according to the National Institutes of Health, “(GA) is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), characterized by atrophic lesions that first start in the outer retina and progressively expand to cover the macula and the fovea, the center of the macula, leading to irreversible loss of vision over time.” 

The term geographic atrophy was first coined 40 years ago and was used to refer to the atrophic (wasting of tissue, with cell death) regions on the retina that resembled the map of a continent or well-defined country borders on geographical maps. The term has now prevailed for the non-exudative late-stage of AMD itself. 

According to the National Institutes of Health:

“The term geographic atrophy (GA) is commonly used in Ophthalmology although definitions vary and no generally accepted definition has been agreed upon with regard to the various characteristics of atrophy at the level of the outer retina and the retinal pigment epithelium. Consequently, there is substantial confusion among retina doctors and other health care professionals.” 

The important point here is this; If you have been told you have GA, you do not have a new disease. You still have macular degeneration. Geographic atrophy (as currently used by retinal doctors) refers to late stage macular degeneration when areas outside the central vision (region of the macula) is involved in a weakening of the tissue and consequent vision loss. It does not refer to early or mid stage macular degeneration where the macula is mostly affected and other areas of the retina are still healthy. 

So, if you are now being told you have GA, don’t panic. Nothing has changed, and it’s very likely that you don’t have GA. Anyone in the early stages of AMD, where you are still able to read, drive and live a normal life, or in the mid stage where you can read large print, you have AMD, not GA.