Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

A ge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease of the eye that is the leading cause of blindness for people aged 65 years and older and affects more than 10 million Americans.AMD is caused by a deterioration of the retina-the layer of the eye that contains cells that relay images through the optic nerve to the brain.The center of the retina is called the macula and is responsible for the detailed central vision that allows people to read, drive, and recognize faces.If the macula starts to break down, areas in the center of the visual field start to look blurred.Risk factors for AMD include older age, white race, and smoking.There is no cure for AMD, but therapies are available that can slow the disease.The May 24/31, 2006, issue of JAMA includes an article on age-related macular degeneration.This Patient Page is based on one previously published in the November 19, 2002, issue of JAMA.