The macula is responsible for focusing central vision that is needed for seeing fine detail, reading, driving, and recognizing facial features. It is equally common in men and women and more common in whites than blacks. The cause is unknown, but the condition tends to run in some families. Macular degeneration affects more Americans than cataracts and glaucoma combined. Both forms of the disease may affect both eyes simultaneously.
Vision can become severely impaired, with central vision rather than peripheral vision affected.
The ability to see color is generally not affected, and total blindness from the condition is rare. There is little that can be done within conventional medical treatment protocols to restore lost eyesight with either form of the disease. Dietary supplementation of trace elements, antioxidants, and vitamins is recommended for improving overall metabolic and vascular functioning. Early screening and patient education offer the most hope for reducing the debilitating effects of the disease. In the dry type of macular degeneration, the retina deteriorates in association with the formation of small yellow pigment-like deposits, called drusen, that form under the macula.