Macular Degeneration

A common condition that causes diminished sight is macular degeneration. The macula a central point in the retina which corresponds to the point of your sharpest vision that is used for all fine focus tasks at distance and near.

As it is the most active part of the retina it requires a lot of nutrients to be processed into the energy required for its activity. As we age, sometimes the body is less efficient at removing the waste products that result from this process and deposits build up at the macula.

These deposits can produce a slow painless loss of vision. If straight lines look wavy, or your vision seems fuzzy, or there are shadowy areas in your central vision, you may be experiencing early signs of age-related macular degeneration.

People with this condition do not go blind, as side or peripheral vision is not affected. However, people with macular degeneration may find visual tasks such as driving, reading, writing and sewing difficult.

As with number of eye conditions, vision loss tend to occur slowly and without any obvious sins or discomfort. Regular eye examinations help to make the most of vision and to detect any conditions that need treatment.