Macular degeneration is a degenerative
condition which impairs central
vision. Mostly reading vision is affected and generally the elderly
popullation are involved. In early cases the words or letters appear
distorted.
Later on the reading vision is impaired. Rarely both eyes may be
involved. patients almost always retain their peripheral
vision to help them to get around
with their daily work except close work needing fine vision.
Ophthalmologist diagnose this condition by seeing the retina through an ophthalmoscope.
He might then investigate with a fundus fluorescein angiography. Here a
dye is injected in the
wrist and serial photos of retina are taken to asses the picture. A
optical coherence tomograph (OCT)
is another noninvesive test which can help to confirm this condition.
No causes are known.
Treatment is unsatisfactory. Laser destruction of the degeneration
after injecting a light
sensitive porphyrin dye offers some relief but expenses can be
prohibitive.
Some experimental surgeries have been tried.