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The Facts about
Central Vision Blindness

By Teri Brown

Many people have vision problems as they age. Whether one experiences a need for new glasses or laser surgery to remove cataracts, most people are prepared for vision changes. Few people, however, are ever ready to receive a diagnosis of central vision loss.

Macular degeneration is a catchall term for a group of diseases characterized by a breakdown of the macula. The macula is the very central part of the retina and is responsible for the sharp, direct vision needed to read or drive. There are many diseases and conditions that may affect this part of the eye: age-related wet or dry macular degeneration, angioid streaks, choroideremia, central serous retinopathy, Coat's disease, cystoid macular or myopic macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration can produce either a slow or sudden loss of vision depending on what type of disease the diagnosis is. Because these diseases are often completely painless, they frequently go unnoticed in their early stages. An eye care practitioner can detect early signs of central eye disease before symptoms appear, which is why it is so important to have regular checkups. If straight lines look wavy, your vision seems fuzzy or there are shadowy areas in your central vision, you may be experiencing early signs of a macular disease.

"Age-related macular degeneration is an age-related process," says Dr. Jason Slakter, clinical professor of ophthalmology for the NYU School of Medicine in New York City.

Although most macular degeneration diseases are age-related, the exact causes are still unknown. Factors that place you at a higher risk for these diseases include smoking, high blood pressure, farsightedness and obesity.

"One important modifiable risk factor is cigarette smoking," says Dr. Slakter. "By eliminating cigarette smoking, an individual can reduce their risk of progression of the disease significantly."

Consumption of omega-6 fatty acids, such as those found in vegetable oils, have been associated with a higher risk of macular disease. Conversely, omega-3 fatty acids have been found to have a protective effect against advanced macular degeneration.

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