Macular degeneration occurs when the macula -- the central part of the retina that ensures that our vision is clear and sharp -- starts to fail, causing a loss of central vision. It can be quite debilitating in that one can
lose the central vision needed to see faces, read and drive. One does
not go blind as peripheral vision will always remain.
Family history and smoking are risk factors.
Symptoms include:
- A gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly
- A gradual loss of color vision
- Distorted vision
- A dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision
Here is more information on macular degeneration in an audiovisual format. |
