Macular Degeneration Diagnosis and Treatment

Macular degeneration is a leading cause of impaired vision in the elderly population. It is caused by the degeneration of the macula, the central portion of the retina. Although macular degeneration causes distortion of central and color vision, side vision is not affected.

Macular degeneration is a natural result of the aging process. With time, the retinal tissues break down and become thin.  This deterioration causes a loss of function of the macula.  Occasionally, macular degeneration is caused by injury, infection, or inflammation. The disease may also be hereditary.

The most notable symptom of macular degeneration is blurry or distorted central vision. Difficulty in reading, doing close work, or driving may also be noticed. Distortion of the center of a scene, a dark or empty area in the center of vision, or the distortion of lines while reading are common symptoms as well.

Macular degeneration may also cause a dimming of color vision.  Fortunately, the disease does not cause total blindness, as side vision is not affected.  Macular degeneration only affects central and color vision.  However, if macular degeneration occurs in only one eye,  the symptoms of the disease may not be noticed, as  the "good" eye compensates for the "bad" eye.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for macular degeneration. However, laser treatment may be used to slow the progression of the disease in certain cases. Laser treatment can also be effective in sealing leaky blood vessels and destroying abnormal vessels so that hemorrhaging and scarring will not further decrease central vision.