A progressive, painless disorder affecting the macula. The result is a roughly circular area of blindness that increases in size until it is large enough to obscure 2 or 3 words at reading distance. Macular degeneration does not cause total blindness as vision is retained around the edges of the visual fields. This condition is a common disorder in elderly people. Of the 2 types of macular degeneration that may occur, one type is usually remedied by laser treatment. There is no treatment for the other form, although the affected person may benefit from aids such as magnifying instruments.
Macular degeneration |
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