The macula is a piece of tissue found within the retina that helps to process the light that enters the eye. These structures in the eye help to create clear vision. There are two type of degenerative processes that can affect the macula: wet or dry macular degeneration. In the case of dry macular degeneration, the cells that help to process light break down. This commonly occurs with age. The National Eye Institute notes that approximately 90 percent of all cases of macular degeneration are the dry type. In some cases symptoms come on very slowly, which may cause a delay in seeking treatment. Catching the early symptoms of the disease can help prevent blindness.
Drusen
Regular eye exams are important especially for those over age 60 to help spot drusen. Drusen is the medical term for yellowish spots found on the retina and they are often the first warning sign of dry macular degeneration. An eye doctor can detect this discoloration before any symptoms or vision loss occur. Drusen can appear in just one eye or both.
Blurred Central Vision
One possible early warning sign of dry macular degeneration is a partial or complete loss of central vision with no change in peripheral vision. The amount of central vision loss depends on the location and size of the drusen. In the early stages reading may become challenging due to the inability to see straight ahead. When looking at an object the center may appear blurry, cloudy or dark.
General Visual Disturbances
Dry macular degeneration can cause general disturbances in vision such as seeing lines that are straight or wavy or difficulty seeing colors. One eye may see objects normally while the affected eye sees them as distorted. In some cases vision in both eyes is blurry and cloudy.
