Age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD) is a medical condition which usually affects older adults and results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula) because of damage to the retina. It is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older adults (>50 years). Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although enough peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily life.
Pronunciation
Age-related macular degeneration is pronounced as /ˈeɪdʒ rɪˈleɪtɪd ˈmækjʊlər dɛdʒɪˈneɪʃən/.
Etymology
The term "macular degeneration" is derived from "macula", the Latin word for "spot", and "degeneration", referring to the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power, vitality, or essential quality.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of macular degeneration is blurred or no vision in the center of the visual field. Other symptoms may include distortions such as straight lines appearing wavy or objects appearing smaller or further away than they actually are.
Causes
While the specific causes are not known, age-related macular degeneration is thought to be part of the body's natural aging process. There is a hereditary component to the disease, and certain genes have been identified that are related to the development of AMD.
Treatment
There is no cure for macular degeneration, but some treatments can delay its progression or even improve vision. Treatments for macular degeneration depend on whether the disease is in its early-stage, dry form or in the more advanced, wet form that can lead to serious vision loss.
Related Terms
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