Macular degeneration affects the part of the eye called the macula.
The macula is part of the retina, the inner lining of the back of the eye. Light focused on the retina is transformed to an electrical signal that is sent to the brain where seeing takes place. The macula is the tiny central part of the retina that is responsible for the sharp, straight-ahead vision that we use for seeing fine details, reading, driving, recognising people at a distance, or seeing street signs. AMD usually develops very slowly. It is sometimes hard to tell the difference between early AMD and ageing changes than can be seen in most normal eyes.