The Center for Retinal and Macular Degeneration was established in 1990 by the University of Michigan to emphasize research into these eye diseases which cause progressive vision loss. Retinal degenerations lead to progressive loss of peripheral vision and night blindness and ultimately loss of most vision over a lifetime. Macular degenerations affects central vision for reading and driving. Young individuals are affected by strongly genetic forms of macular degenerations with onset during grade school and high school years.
Older individuals suffer from forms of age related macular degeneration .
Ongoing studies in this Center involve the genetic basis for these conditions, basic biological investigations of the retinal cells that degenerate and lead to vision loss, clinical investigations involving individuals and families who have these conditions to learn the course of degeneration and what therapeutic approaches might be possible, and development of pharmaceutical agents to slow degeneration. Investigators in this Center are funded by national research grants and private philanthropy. A particular strength of this Center is the interactive, collaborative approach among the affiliated researchers. Training of younger scientists is also part of the program.