Almost everyone over the age of sixty-five has some degenerative changes in the macula. There is no known medical cure, but Dr. Rose maintains that you can prevent macular degeneration and halt its progress with nutrition and lifestyle changes. The macula is a part of the retina, which lines most of the inside surface of the eyeball. Each of the several layers of the retina has its own role in maintaining vision. The macula contains specialized photoreceptors needed for central vision and for perception of colors and printed words.
Macular degeneration is just that-degeneration of the macula.
In the majority of cases, this happens over a span of many years. Slowly, the cells of the macula age and die off. The RPE becomes clogged with wastes and calcium deposits, and the blood vessels of the choroid become leaky or stopped up and unable to nourish the macula. Age spots called drusen, a sign of sun damage similar to age spots on the skin, form on the retina. Dry ARMD often leads to significant visual impairment, making everyday tasks like reading, writing, and driving difficult, if not impossible.