Macular degeneration is the condition where part of your retina becomes damaged. When the central portion of your retina undergoes this damage it leads to vision loss and will make it hard to do everyday tasks that include your central vision. Some tasks that would normally be easy that become difficult include reading, driving a car, and even recognizing objects.
There are some risk factors associated with macular degeneration. As you increase in age your chances of developing macular degeneration will increase. Also, studies have shown that your genetics, race, and smoking status can increase your chance of developing this vision altering condition. If someone in your family has been diagnosed with macular degeneration then you are at a higher risk of developing it. If you are caucasian you are also more likely to develop this condition.
As of right now, there is no cure for macular degeneration but don’t lose hope! There are many things you can do to reduce your risk and slow the development of macular degeneration once you have been diagnosed with it!