Macular Degeneration is a serious disease of the retina at the back of the eye that can affect your vision and even result in blindness.The macula is a part of the back layer of the eye that provides the centre of your vision. Macular degeneration is often related to age but can be caused by other diseases and health problems.
Conditions only affecting the macula don’t lead to total (‘black’) blindness. Instead, they affect the central vision, leaving peripheral vision intact. You can have early signs of macular disease without knowing it. However, when symptoms do appear, they can include:
- difficulty with reading or any other activity which requires detailed central vision (despite wearing appropriate glasses)
- distortion, where straight lines may appear wavy or bent
- problems distinguishing faces
- dark patches in the central vision.
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should consult an optometrist. Early detection and prompt intervention are crucial to saving sight. The most common macular disease is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Approximately one in seven Australians over the age of 50 have some evidence of AMD.
Some forms of macular degeneration can be treated, but improvement is not always possible. This is why it is so important to have regular check-ups with your optometrist. Early detection and treatment are vital to managing vision loss.
