Eye Conditions
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a medical condition usually found in older adults which results in a loss of vision in the centre of the visual field because of damage to the central retina (the macular). It occurs in "dry" and "wet" forms and is a major cause of blindness in the elderly.
Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces and detail, although enough peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily life. Behind the retina is the choroid, which contains the blood supply to the retina.
In the dry (atrophic) form of macular degeneration, cellular debris called drusen accumulates between the retina and the choroid. Dry Age-Realted-Macular-Degeneration (AMD) is usually slow to progress and the visual liss is usually mild; however it should still be monitored regularly to rule out the presence of wet macular degeneration.
In the wet (exudative) form, which is more severe, blood vessels grow up from the choroid behind the retina, and the retina can also become detached. Your optician can spot the early signs of this condition and refer you to a specialist if necessary.
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