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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that affects central vision. AMD is a common cause of vision loss among people over age of 60. People rarely go blind from the disease, but AMD can sometimes make it difficult to read, drive, or perform other daily activities that require fine, central vision.
Central vision is the term we use to describe the finely focused, sharp, straight-ahead vision that we use to drive, read, and perform other daily activities. We have central vision because light that enters the eye is converted into nerve signals that tell the brain what we are seeing. This change takes place at the macula, an area of the center of the retina. When the macula becomes misshapen with age, it affects our central vision.
AMD is not painful, but the symptoms are noticable. Symptoms can include slightly blurred vision; a need for more light for reading and other tasks; a blurred or blind spot in the center of your vision; straight lines that appear wavy; and rapid loss of your central vision.
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