If your doctor has informed you that you have macular degeneration, you will need to get treatment as soon as possible. Macular degeneration is a serious condition that leads to a variety of eye problems. Ultimately, macular degeneration leads to blindness.
What is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is a type of eye disease in which portions of the eye and its function deteriorate. This disease develops over time, and it’s important to get it diagnosed as early in its progression as possible.
When macular degeneration starts to develop, the area that is affected is the retina. The retina is located on the inside of the eye, at the back. The retina is responsible for recording the images that you see. During normal vision, the retina sends that recorded signals to the brain through the optic nerve. The part of the retina that is the central area is known as the macula, which is where the focusing takes place, where colors are perceived and where fine details are noted, such as in facial recognition. The macula is the specific area of the retina where degeneration takes place in this particular eye disease.
Symptoms of Macular Degeneration
In the very early stages of macular degeneration, there may be no symptoms that are noticeable to the patient. The early stages of macular degeneration can only be detected by an eye doctor, which is why it’s so important to have regular eye exams throughout life. The earlier macular degeneration is detected, the better outcome that may be possible.
Intermediate and advanced stages of macular degeneration may show symptoms such as slight vision loss, patchy, blurred vision or intermittent blindness.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in the U. S. Currently, this disease is considered incurable. However, with certain treatments and lifestyle changes, progression of macular degeneration may be slowed or halted.
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