Macular Degeneration - Overview

Macular degeneration or Age-Related Macular Degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina. The retina is essentially on the back part of the eye and image processing center that is responsible for transmitting images to the brain.

The images are sent through the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The retina's central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, work on computers, play athletics, or simply recognize familiar people. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness affecting more Americans than cataracts and glaucoma combined.

The good news is that you may have some control over the risk factors. Unfortunately there are millions of Americans that are not aware that macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease and that it is the leading cause of blindness for those aged 55 and older.

Believe it or not this disease affects more than 10 million Americans and the volume of patients getting this disease is growing. As we grow older the chances of developing macular degeneration increases. Unfortunately, the specific factors that cause macular degeneration are not conclusively known. There are however some signs and symptoms to be aware of...