What is Macular Degeneration (MD)
Macular Degeneration (MD) is an incurable eye disease. It is a visual impairment that most commonly affects people over the age of 50. MD is a chronic condition that occurs when the center of the retina (macula) deteriorates. The disease blurs the vision and often creates blind spots in the center field of vision. Age related macular degeneration is the cause of half the visual impairments and 22 percent of blindness in the U.S. It is the leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 55 and it affects more than 10 million Americans (Mainster, 2009).
The disease is classified into “wet” or “dry” types. The majority of MD cases (85 to 90 percent) are categorized as “dry” while the “wet” cases make up the remaining percentage.
| Wet Md | Dry MD |
| 15 % | 85 % |