When light enters the eye, it is focused by the cornea and the lens onto the retina. The retina then transforms the light images into electrical impulses that are sent to the brain through the optic nerve. The macula is a very small area of the retina that is responsible for central vision and color vision. The macula allows us to read, drive, and perform detailed work. Surrounding the macula is the peripheral retina that is responsible for side vision and night vision.
Macular degeneration is most commonly a natural result of the aging process.
With time, the retinal tissues break down and become thin. This deterioration causes a loss of function of the macula. Growth of new, abnormal blood vessels in the scar tissue that forms from the leaking blood vessels is also common. Blood and leaking fluid destroy the macula, causing vision to become distorted and blurred. The formation of dense scar tissue blocks out central vision to a severe degree.