Macular Degeneration

 Early on there are often no symptoms.Over time, however, some people experience a gradual worsening of vision that may affect one or both eyes.While it does not result in complete blindness, loss of central vision can make it hard to recognize faces, drive, read, or perform other activities of daily life.Visual hallucinations may also occur but these do not represent a mental illness.

 
Macular degeneration typically occurs in older people.Genetic factors and smoking also play a role.It is due to damage to the macula of the retina.Diagnosis is by a complete eye exam.The severity is divided into early, intermediate, and late types.The late type is additionally divided into "dry" and "wet" forms with the dry form making up 90% of cases.