Don't Lose Sight of Macular Degeneration

The mission of All About Macular Degeneration is to provide you with resources to educate yourself about macular degeneration signs, symptoms, risks, prevention, treatment and support.

Macular degeneration can stop you from doing the things you like or need to do. This eye disease causes vision loss that is unlike that of other eye problems or conditions. Unlike cataracts, where your entire field of vision becomes blurry or cloudy, macular degeneration produces "blind spots" in the central portion of your vision. Macular degeneration can advance slowly in some patients and faster in others, causing gradual or sudden blindness.

QUICK FACTS: Macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in Americans age 60 and older. More than 1.75 million patients in the U.S. suffer from age-related macular degeneration. Due to the rapid aging of the U.S. population, the number of age-related macular degeneration patients will double the current number by 2020. (Source: National Eye Institute, October 2004)

DEFINITION: Macular degeneration is an eye condition that affects the macula, the part of the human eye that allows us to see objects with great detail. There are two forms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): wet and dry. Wet macular degeneration progresses faster and is more severe than the dry form. Dry AMD is more prevalent, accounting for 85-90% of diagnosed AMD cases.

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For more information, visit the Consumer Guide to Macular Degeneration.