Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss, affecting more than 10 million Americans – more than cataracts and glaucoma combined.

Macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The retina’s central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail.

The first sign of macular degeneration is usually distortion of straight lines. This may progress to a gradual loss of central vision.

Symptoms of macular degeneration include:

• Straight lines start to appear distorted, or the center of vision becomes distorted
• Dark, blurry areas or white out appears in the center of vision
• Very rarely diminished or changed color perception