| First, it is important to realize that what is lost is | | | | These three layers are responsible for the feeding |
| the central portion of your sight - what you see | | | | of oxygen and nutrients to therods and cones |
| right in front of you like the face of a person or | | | | and for the removal of built up waste. |
| the words in a book. | | | | However, with this eye disease, these layers are |
| Peripheral or side vision is still there. It is NOT | | | | no longer doing their job well, and nutrients and |
| blindness , but rather low vision. | | | | oxygen are unable to feed the cells and waste is |
| The eye is an amazing miracle with over 500 | | | | built up. The cells begin to die. There are 3 main |
| kinds of cells. That is where the word "macula" | | | | types of this retinal degeneration. |
| comes in. The macula is the center of the retina | | | | 1) Dry Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD) |
| which lines the inside of the eyeball. | | | | Dry AMD is the most common form of age |
| Cone cells are the primary cells in the macula and | | | | related macular degeneration (AMD). The vision |
| are responsible for sharp images, acute vision, | | | | loss is usually more gradual and not as severe. As |
| color perception and central vision. | | | | the name states it is age related. As we age our |
| They help us distinguish the difference between | | | | risk increases. |
| navy blue and black and help us see the detailed | | | | 2. Wet Macular Degeneration (Wet AMD) |
| features of a face or read the words in the | | | | Fortunately, wet AMD is not as common as dry |
| newspaper. | | | | AMD. However, it does cause greater central |
| In this macular disease the cone cells and the rod | | | | vision loss which can be very sudden. Dry AMD |
| cells begin to die. As a result there are less cells | | | | can turn into Wet AMD. |
| to transmit visual signals to the brain. | | | | 3. Juvenile Macular Degeneration (JMD) |
| The three layers of tissue that lie beneath the | | | | JMD, more commonly known as macular |
| retina are also involved. They are: | | | | dystrophy, is really several different genetic |
| 1) the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) | | | | diseases. They are usually diagnosed during |
| 2) Bruch's Membrane | | | | childhood or adolescence. |
| 3) the Choroid | | | | |