The most common cause of irreversible loss of central reading vision for senior citizens. The macula is the anatomical
part of the eye that gives us central reading vision. Any damage to the macula will result in some or even total loss of central vision.

Since peripheral vision is not affected, patients with macular degeneration do not go totally blind. Most can continue to function quiet well in familiar environments. Most cases of macular degeneration develop after age 50. About 90 percent of those who have the "dry" form. This means that there is no leakage of fluid in the macula.

At this time, effective medical treatments are limited. Along with certain low-vision aids and devices, the best treatment is learning to use the remaining peripheral vision. Most patient are put on antioxidants to include lutein. The "wet" form accounts for about 10% of all age-related macular degeneration, but it accounts for 90% of the most serious loss of vision in patients. This is caused when new blood vessels form beneath the macula and begin to leak. Most recently new "anti-verg" injections have shown success in restoring some vision in some patients.