The macula, which is roughly the size of a pencil eraser, occupies the center of the retina of the eye. Despite its small size, it plays a prominent role in central vision; it is to her that we owe the sharpness and high definition that make it possible to read, drive, recognize faces and distinguish fine details. In the case of macular degeneration, there is an irreversible deterioration of the macula. The view is then blurred. A blind spot can develop in the center of the visual field making it difficult or impossible to perform activities such as reading and writing. On the other hand, peripheral vision is not affected.
It’s not known what causes age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but some estimate that around a quarter of people over the age of 65 and a third of those over the age of 80 have it.
In almost 90% of cases, it is the dry form (non-exudative or atrophic): the light-sensitive cells of the macula slowly degrade and drusen, small yellow growths composed of a fatty deposit, appear . Dry AMD is the less severe of the two forms, progressing slowly and sometimes stabilizing for a while. You may not even realize that your eyesight has declined, especially if only one of your eyes is affected, with the other compensating for the loss.
Degeneration is a problem that can be caused by too frequent eye rubbing.
