The macular is an important part of the eye that is located at the centre of the retina. It’s small but manages your ability to see fine details clearly. If you have age related macular degeneration (AMD) you may lose the central part of your vision lightly or in some cases more severely, and also your capacity to see details both close and in the distance. Your peripheral vision usually remains normal.
There are two types of AMD.
The most common is Dry AMD which can develop over several years where the retinal cells gradually die off and are not renewed.
The second type is Wet AMD where irregular blood vessels grow into the macular and leak, causing scarring. Wet AMD can progress more quickly over a few weeks or months.
People developing AMD usually experience having difficulty in low light conditions, having blurry vision, they may see straight lines as wavy, colours can seem less vivid and having blank spots within their vision. The exact cause is unknown but AMD has been linked to smoking, a poor diet, family history of AMD and high blood pressure.