Macular degeneration (MD), the leading cause of blindness among people over 65, is a condition that causes a slow loss of vision capacity. As a result, daily tasks such as driving and reading become more and more difficult for those suffering from macular degeneration.
In later stages of macular degeneration, patients have trouble recognizing faces. Although the condition itself doesn't cause eye pain, the emotional pain of not being able to recognize a loved one is one of the most devastating effects of this condition.
Adults from 40 to 70 years old are at the highest risk for developing macular generation. Scientists believe the disease is a disorder related to the health of blood vessels in the back of the eye. Some say it is also linked to nerve activity in the back of the eye.
While the precise cause is still under investigation, scientists have established a list of risk factors for macular degeneration, including:
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