The macula is where the cells responsible for sharp color vision are located. Cause Macular degeneration typically develops when tiny amounts of blood seep through capillaries into surrounding space, causing scar tissue to form. Cells in the macula become undernourished and die. As a result the center of the retina separates from the underlying tissue of the eyeball. Sometimes the separation takes many months, but it can also happen in a matter of days.
Macular degeneration differs from detached retina in that the edges of the retina stay in place.
Symptoms you are likely to notice People with macular degeneration may first notice a tiny spot of fuzziness in the center of their vision. The fuzzy spot grows over time until such activities as reading at a normal distance and driving a car become extremely difficult. Eventually all that remains is peripheral vision - the ability to see out of the corners of the eye. There is no specific method for preventing macular degeneration, but the onset of the disease can be slowed by laser treatments to stop the bleeding. Risk factors Members of some families appear to be especially prone to this kind of degeneration.