Often, colours seem less bright than they used to, or patients start to see things that are not there.
The new findings suggest these visual distortions should not be taken lightly, as their treatment could potentially save lives.
Professor Smith added: “We discovered that only one form of AMD, that with subretinal drusenoid deposits, is tightly connected to high-risk vascular diseases and the other form, known as drusen, is not.
“If ophthalmologists diagnose or treat someone with the specific subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) form of AMD, but who otherwise seems well, that patient may have significant undetected heart disease or possible carotid artery stenosis that could result in a stroke.
READ MORE: Stroke: The undiagnosed risk factors found in the majority of patients
