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Macular Degeneration

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Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration

Condition:

Macular Degeneration is a problem in the part of the eye that controls your sharpest central vision. It is a group of diseases that result in a loss of detailed vision. The brain will not just leave the spot empty, so it learns to fill it in with spotty macular cell damage. People most of the time don 't tell their doctors (ophthalmologist
s) about it until it is well in advance.

There are two types of Macular Degeneration. Juvenile Macular Degeneration affects the central vision in young children. This takes place in the macula, or the central region of the retina. The retina is where we are able to read and to distinguish colors. The main symptoms of Juvenile Macular Degeneration is a reduction in the vision.

Adult Macular Degeneration is usually said to affect only those over 55 years of age. This type is found in the photosensitive cells in your retina. This includes those that control critical colors and fine detail vision. These are in the center area in the eye called the macula.

The many symptoms of Macular Degeneration vary. Sometimes only one eye will lose it 's vision, while the other eye is perfectly normal. There is a decrease of visual acuity. This means the macula doesn 't provide the sharpest vision. The surrounding of the retina can be used, but it is not as sensitive as the macula. There is also visual distortion. The damage to the retina may cause wavy vision because of the stretching. Some other symptoms are blindspots, eccentric viewing, photostress, photophobia, better vision at night, color vision, peripheral vision sensitivity, hallucinations, and depth perceptions. These are just some of the things that Macular Degeneration affects.

Macular Degeneration is hard to recognize at the first, but if it affects both eyes than it becomes a problem. Reading and close up work can be very difficult.

Few people realize that Macular Degeneration is an incurable eye disease



Bibliography: 1. "Ophthalmologists."The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine.1989ed. 2. "An Overview of Macular Degeneration."Macular Degeneration Foundation.http://www.eyesight.org/All_About_MD/all_about_md.html (29 Dec. 1999). 3. "What is Macular Degeneration?"American Macular Degeneration Foundation.http://www.macular.org/thedisease.html (29 Dec. 1999). 4. "Macular Degeneration." Introduction to Macular Degeneration.http://www.eyeassociates.com/images/introduction_to_macular_degenera.html (29 Dec. 1999). 5. "Research and Experimental Treatment."Macular Degeneration Research.http://www.macd.net/research/index.html (29 Dec. 1999). 6. "Choosing An Eye Doctor."Ophthalmologists http://www.children-special-needs.org/parenting/pediatric_ophthalmologist .html (29 Dec. 1999).

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