The macula is a part of the retina responsible for distinguishing fine details on objects in the center of the field of vision. A breakdown between the retina and the choroid results in degeneration.
Macular degeneration is a common effect of aging.
1 Risk factors include smoking and family history. The first symptom of macular degeneration is usually blurred central vision or a large central blind spot. There is no cure, but laser surgery during the early stages of the disease may slow its progression. While there is no certain preventive measure, avoiding extreme sunlight may be helpful. Sunlight triggers oxidative damage to the eye, and this can lead to macular degeneration.