Macular Degeneration
The reduction of the eye’s ability to absorb, filter and protect from blue and ultraviolet light.
The macula is the yellow part of the retina that naturally protects the eye from an excess of blue and ultraviolet light by absorbing it. Macular degeneration can happen in two ways:
- Dry, which is a result of yellow-colored deposits called drusen wearing down the macula and causing atrophy.
- Wet, which is the leaking of abnormally-sized blood vessels into the retina, which makes vision blurry and results in blind spots.
How Macular Degeneration Impacts Vision
The symptoms are fairly similar for both types of macular degeneration: blind spots, a loss of central vision, and distorted vision in the form of moving lines. In a practical sense, pay attention to how often you need to use bright lights when working, as well as how well your eyes adjust to contrasting brightness levels (dimly-lit spaces, in particular).
Macular Degeneration Causes
Macular degeneration is age-related, meaning that the chances of it occurring increases as you age and tissue strength begins to dwindle. There is no certain cause of the condition, but be sure to pay attention to the aforementioned symptoms if you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, are obese, and are Caucasian.