Macula Degeneration

The macula is a small area at the very centre of the retina. It’s responsible for what we see straight in front of us — the fine detail needed for reading and writing, and our ability to see colour.

Sometimes the delicate cells of the macula become damaged and stop working. Many different conditions can cause this. When it happens later in life, it’s called age-related macular degeneration. We don’t yet know why this happens, but there are two main types: ‘wet’ and ‘dry’.

Macular degeneration usually involves both eyes, though one may be affected long before the other. This can make it hard to notice at first, because the ‘good’ eye compensates for the loss of sight in the affected eye.

Only around 10% of people with macular degeneration have the ‘wet’ type — everyone else has the ‘dry’ type.

‘Wet’ macular degeneration causes a build-up of fluid under the retina, leading to bleeding and scarring that causes sight loss. It can progress rapidly, usually within a few months, but treatments are available at the hospital for this form.

‘Dry’ macular degeneration usually develops slowly, often over years, and there’s currently no treatment for it. Many people find the visual cells simply stop functioning, rather like colours fading in an old photograph.

Because dry AMD progresses so gradually, regular eye examinations become especially important for catching and monitoring changes over time. An optional OCT scan — included free for patients on Optiplan — can help track even minor changes.

In the early stages, central vision may become blurred or distorted, with objects appearing an unusual size or shape and straight lines looking wavy. In more advanced cases, people often notice a blank patch or dark spot in the centre of their sight.

No — macular degeneration is not painful and almost never leads to total blindness, as it never affects vision at the outer edges of the eye. Almost everyone with the condition retains enough peripheral vision to get around and keep their independence.

In the early stages, your central vision may become blurred or distorted, with objects looking an unusual size or shape, and straight lines may appear wavy or fuzzy. This may happen quickly or develop over several months, though macular degeneration itself is not painful.

Because it affects the centre of the retina, people with a more advanced form of the condition often notice a blank patch or dark spot in the centre of their sight. This makes reading, writing, and recognising small objects or faces very difficult.

If you suspect you may have macular degeneration but have no sudden symptoms, see your optician or GP, who will refer you to a specialist if necessary. If there’s a rapid, significant change in vision, consult your doctor or local hospital’s Accident and Emergency department immediately.