The center of the retina is called the macula. It is the most sensitive portion of the eye and is responsible for central or “straight ahead” vision as well as the ability to see the detail of faces, reading material, colors and precise vision required for driving a car.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is the most common type of macular degeneration. The older we are, the greater the chance we will develop Macular Degeneration. ARMD is a degenerative condition of the macula that is caused by hardening of the arteries of the retina that carries oxygen and nutrients to the retina.
This results in an inability of the macula to function properly. The severity of macular degeneration can vary widely from a slight distortion to a total loss of your central vision. However, macular degeneration does NOT cause total blindness, as its effects are limited to central vision without affecting peripheral vision at all.
If you are over the age of 40-45 and have a family history of any type of macular degeneration you should have your eyes examined each year. During your examination, your pupils may be dilated so that your doctor can carefully examine the macula and retina using one or more types of ophthalmoscopes and possibly high magnification lenses with the slit lamp biomicroscope. They may evaluate your color vision to check for proper functioning of the macula and may perform an Amsler Grid test to check for any distortion of your central vision.
Schedule your next eye exam at CT Eye Center, P.C. where Dr. Patrick Albergo and Dr. Duane Austin are available to serve all of your eye health needs with compassion and dedication.
