It is the part of the retina that is responsible for sharp, detailed central vision (also called visual acuity). The macula lutea, also called fovea, contains a very high concentration of cones. These are the light-sensitive cells in the retina that give detailed central vision.

The anatomical macula is defined histologically in terms of having two or more layers of ganglion cells. The fovea is located near the center of the macula. It is a small pit that contains the largest concentration of cone cells. The retina contains two types of photosensitive cells, the rod cells and the cone cells.

The macula is part of the retina at the back of the eye. It is only about 5mm across but is responsible for our central vision, most of our colour vision and the fine detail of what we see. The macula has a very high concentration of photoreceptor cells – the cells that detect light.

Cones: The photoreceptor nerve cells present in the macula and concentrated in the fovea (the very center of the macula); enable people to see fine detail and color.

The macula is an oval-shaped area near the center of the retina. The retina is a light-sensitive layer that lines the back of the eye. It is made up of 200 million neurons, but is only about 0.2 millimeters thick.

Macular hole is when a tear or opening forms in your macula. As the hole forms, things in your central vision will look blurry, wavy or distorted. As the hole grows, a dark or blind spot appears in your central vision. A macular hole does not affect your peripheral (side) vision.

Even if surgery does not successfully correct your central vision, a macular hole never affects your peripheral vision, so you’d never go completely blind from this condition.

Does Macular Degeneration Necessarily Lead to Blindness? Not everyone with early AMD will develop advanced AMD, and those who develop an advanced form of the disease do not develop total blindness. However, the loss of central vision can significantly interfere with everyday activities, such as driving or reading.

Individuals with vision loss from age-related macular degeneration look fine. Their eyes appear to be just like they always were and their peripheral (side) vision is preserved, so they can walk around with little or no difficulty and may even spot a small dark button dropped on a light rug.

On average, it takes about 10 years to move from diagnosis to legal blindness, but there are some forms of macular degeneration that can cause sight loss in just days.

Advanced Dry AMD Relatively large areas of atrophy are called “geographic atrophy.” Currently, there is no treatment that brings back or replaces dead photoreceptors.

Retinal Disease: A study done at Cornell University showed that an ingredient in coffee called chlorogenic acid (CLA), which is 8 times more concentrated in coffee than caffeine, is a strong antioxidant that may be helpful in warding off degenerative retinal disease like Age Related Macular Degeneration.

The best supplements for macular degeneration contain the following ingredients, per recommendations based on the results of two major clinical studies:

• 500 mg of vitamin C.
• 400 IUs of vitamin E.
• 10 mg of lutein.
• 2 mg of zeaxanthin.
• 80 mg of zinc oxide.
• 2 mg of copper (also called cupric oxide)

Even after receiving a diagnosis of dry macular degeneration, you can take steps that may help slow vision loss.

1. Don’t smoke. If you smoke, ask your doctor for help to quit.
2. Choose a healthy diet.
3. Manage your other medical conditions.
4. Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
5. Have routine eye exams.

One promising new treatment, for wet AMD, involves retinal gene therapy, as an alternative to monthly eye injections. The goal of gene therapy is to employ the body to make its own anti-VEGF by inserting a harmless virus (called an adeno-associated virus/AAV) carrying the anti-VEGF gene into a person’s DNA.

Even if your Dove bar doesn’t sharpen your vision, the flavonoids found in dark chocolate may help improve vision in people with glaucoma as well as reduce the risk for macular degeneration.

Foods to avoid with macular degeneration

• Processed foods that contain trans fats.
• Tropical oils, like palm oil (use vitamin E–rich safflower and corn oil instead)
• Lard and vegetable shortening, and margarine.
• High-fat dairy foods (eggs in moderation are a good source of eye-healthy nutrients)
• Fatty beef, pork and lamb.

There are treatments for macular degeneration that can help to slow the progression of the disease, preserve your existing vision, and reduce the risk of more severe vision loss. Laser surgery is used as one kind of treatment for AMD and is limited to wet AMD.

A large study found that vitamin E, together with other nutrients, can help slow age-related macular degeneration (AMD) from getting worse. It may also help prevent cataracts. Hazelnuts, peanuts (technically legumes), and peanut butter are also good sources of vitamin E.

Although there is no cure for the disease, doctors can develop a treatment plan that may slow the progression of it. Treatments can include medications, injections and laser therapy that can help to stop the leaking that causes wet macular degeneration.

The dry form of age-related macular degeneration tends to get worse slowly, so you can keep most of your vision. The wet form of macular degeneration is a leading cause of permanent vision loss. If it’s in both eyes, it can hurt your quality of life.

Macular degeneration isn’t life-threatening or potentially fatal in any way. However, it is a serious threat to your vision, because it can progress from a little blurry spot in your sight to the point where you become legally blind.

Laser photocoagulation is a type of laser surgery for the eyes. It is done to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a condition that can lead to loss of vision. The retina is the layer of cells in the back of your eye that converts light into electrical signals.

Articles On Macular Degeneration There’s no cure, but treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may slow the disease and keep you from having a severe loss of vision. Talk to your doctor about the best way to manage your condition.

The majority of the studies on the subject conclude that it is safe to have cataract surgery even if you have AMD and in most cases there is a significant improvement in vision. Removing the cloudy lens also helps the ophthalmologist to better monitor the status of the AMD.

“But for most people, they aren’t necessary for eye health,” says ophthalmologist Richard Gans, MD. “You can get the vitamins you need through your diet. And there is little evidence connecting vitamin supplements with improved eye health.”

The biggest risk factor for Macular Degeneration is age. Your risk increases as you age, and the disease is most likely to occur in those 55 and older.