Does Wet Macular Degeneration Lead To Blindness

The macula is in the part of the retina responsible for central vision.

Does wet macular degeneration lead to blindness. See age related macular degeneration does not cause blindness many affected people move about with no assistance at all and lead independent productive lives. Wet macular degeneration is a chronic eye disorder that causes blurred vision or a blind spot in your visual field. According to the american journal of managed care some people lose their sight within days of experiencing symptoms. At its worst macular degeneration will damage only central vision which arises from the macular area comprising less than 5 of the total retina but responsible for about 35 of the visual field.

The wet type is caused by leaking blood vessels. There is no treatment as yet. And the condition doesn t affect side peripheral vision so it rarely causes total blindness. The peripheral vision however is left untouched so macular degeneration does not by itself lead to total blindness.

It can progress to wet neovascular macular degeneration which is characterized by blood vessels that grow under the retina and leak. According to the national federation for the blind nearly 7 of adults over age 65 fit the definition of visually impaired. In dry macular degeneration which affects about 85 per cent of cases the macula wears away very gradually. There are two forms of macular degeneration wet and dry.

Patients with macular degeneration lose their central vision. Dry macular degeneration is one of two types of age related macular degeneration. These wet forms of macular degeneration involve the growth of blood vessels deep within the eye and when those vessels leak or burst they cause rapid loss of vision. Their causes are mostly unknown.

It s generally caused by abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid or blood into the macula mak u luh. The patients lose their ability to take part in activities. It often occurs in just one eye initially but eventually spreads to both eyes. Neither affects peripheral vision so neither leads to total blindness.

How does macular degeneration lead to blindness. The macula starts to deteriorate and central vision slowly breaks down.