It is in fact the most common cause of blindness in people over the age of 65 in the United States. Macular degeneration results from damage to the central retinal cells in the eye. The cause of macular degeneration is unknown although it is associated with aging, a history of other family members with the disease, ultraviolet sunlight exposure and possibly certain dietary deficiencies of select vitamins and minerals.
Macular degeneration is classified into two varieties.
This stems from a loss of the cells in the central retina which results in a gradual loss of vision over many years. The wet form stems from the spontaneous development of abnormal blood vessels in the wall of the eye that cause leakage, bleeding and scarring of the central retina. Vision loss in the wet form can occur over a matter of days or weeks. Early detection is the most important goal in the management of macular degeneration. Eating a balanced diet including beta carotene and protecting your eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet exposure from the sun are current recommendations.