What is "macular degeneration"?

What is "macular degeneration"?

Robert K. Maloney (Ophthalmologist) gives expert video advice on: Who is likely to suffer macular degeneration?; What treatments are available for macular degeneration? and more...

In age-related macular degeneration, which we call macular degeneration for short, the RPE cell layer deteriorates. Then the retina's not properly supported and nourished and it starts to die. The effect is loss of central vision, so that when you have macular degeneration, when you look straight ahead if it's severe enough, there's a black spot in the center of your vision, and that follows you wherever you look. Macular degeneration incredibly disabling, because you lose your ability to drive, to read, to watch TV.