Many myths exist related to wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a chronic eye condition that can cause vision loss. Even though wet AMD progresses rapidly, early treatment may help keep it from getting worse. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself and get the facts about wet AMD. Start with these five debunked myths.

Myth: Wet AMD and dry AMD are separate conditions. There are two types of AMD: wet and dry. Both involve deterioration of the macula, the center of the retina that provides clear central vision, according to the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). In dry AMD, small white or yellowish deposits form beneath the macula over time, causing it to deteriorate. In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina toward the macula. The blood vessels are weak and can leak, and this leaking can cause vision loss. Most people who have AMD have the dry type, according to the FFB. For about 10 to 20 percent of these people, dry AMD progresses to wet AMD.

Myth: If you have a family history of wet AMD, you will definitely get it yourself. “There is a family predisposition to wet AMD,” says Mark Blecher, MD, an ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon with Philadelphia Eye Associates. “But just because you have a relative who has wet AMD doesn’t mean that you will develop it yourself.” Other risk factors include some you can’t control — advancing age, race, genes — and some you can — smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a diet high in artificial fats and processed foods — according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF).

Myth: There’s nothing you can do to prevent the progression of wet AMD. Wet AMD progresses rapidly, making it important to schedule regular checkups with your eye doctor as you get older. The sooner you catch wet AMD, the sooner treatment can start. “Dramatic improvements of wet AMD are possible, and the sooner the treatment starts the better,” Dr. Blecher says, adding that treatment for wet AMD varies from person to person. In many cases, injections in the eye can prevent wet AMD from becoming worse, according to the FFB. It’s also important to manage the risk factors that you can control: Maintain an appropriate weight; eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet; don’t smoke; and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol within normal range, the National Eye Institute (NEI) says.

Myth: People with wet AMD eventually go blind. People who have late-stage wet AMD can experience vision loss, according to the AMDF. Wet AMD causes central vision loss, which can be defined as legally blind, but your retina will still function, preserving some peripheral vision, the AMDF says. If you catch wet AMD early and treat it promptly, you can greatly reduce your risk of significant vision loss and maintain some sight in the affected eye(s), the AMDF notes.

Myth: The visual hallucinations that sometimes accompany wet AMD may be a sign of mental illness. Up to half of people with wet AMD experience visual hallucinations, according to the Macular Society in the UK. You might see simple things, such as patterns of colors or shapes, or more detailed pictures of people, landscapes, animals, or buildings. Often the images you see don’t fit into what’s in front of you. This is known as Charles Bonnet syndrome, named for a Swiss philosopher in the 1700s who was considered the first person to describe it, according to the Bright Focus Foundation. These hallucinations can be alarming, but they’re not a sign of mental illness. Chances are, if you have Charles Bonnet syndrome, it will go away on its own within 18 months of it starting. In the meantime, you can reduce the hallucinations, which occur more frequently at night, by turning on the TV or a light; blinking or closing your eyes; or focusing on an object in front of you for a short time.

5 Wet AMD Myths, Debunked