Macular
Degeneration
The macula is
the tiny central part of the retina which is responsible for
fine detail vision and for color perception. Macular degeneration
is a disease of this very important portion of the retina. It
usually affects both eyes, but often begins in one eye.
In many cases,
patients are not aware of macular degeneration in one eye, because
the other eye compensates for the weaker one. The most common
symptoms include difficulty reading, seeing up close or distorted
lines. It occurs most often in people over fifty years of age.
If you notice a dimness of vision in one or both eyes or if straight
lines appear distorted, you should see an eye doctor immediately.
There is no cure for macular degeneration, but recent research
suggests that certain vitamins and nutrients may slow the progress
of the disease in certain patients. If the disease is advancing,
laser surgery can be also be used to slow the disease.
If you are over
fifty, have your eyes examined regularly. If you have symptoms,
report them to your eye doctor immediately before the disease
progresses too far. |
