What is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of impaired reading or detailed vision. It is caused by the breakdown of the macula. The macula is a very small area of the retina, which is responsible for central vision and color vision. It allows us to read, drive and perform detailed work. Surrounding the macula is the peripheral retina, which is responsible for side vision and night vision. Although macular degeneration causes distortion of central and color vision, side vision is not affected.

What Causes Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is most commonly a natural result of the aging process. With time, the retinal tissues break down and become thin, and cause a loss of function of the macula. The most notable symptom is blurry or distorted central vision. Difficulty in reading, doing close work, or driving may also be noticed. A person with macular degeneration may experience blurry words on a page, distortion of the center of the scene, a dark or empty area in the center of vision, the distortion of lines, or a dimming of color vision.

What is the Treatment For Macular Degeneration?
There is no cure, but laser treatment may be used to slow the progression of the disease. Magnifying devices such as glasses and hand or stand magnifiers, bright illuminations for reading, and large print books and newspapers are available as a low vision aid options. The only means of detecting macular degeneration is with regular eye examinations. If you are experiencing difficulty with central or color vision, contact us and obtain a complete eye explanation.