<p> Macular What is Juvenile Macular Degeneration, or Dystrophy? Degeneration This term is inclusive for several rare, inherited conditions. A result of faulty genes in one or both parents, symptoms What is macular degeneration? may first appear in childhood or early adulthood. Juvenile macular dystrophies cause the loss of central vision as a Macular degeneration, a progressive disease, is the result of damage to the macula, the most detail sensitive breakdown or damage to the macula, a part at the back of part of the retina, and some affect peripheral vision also. the eye that is responsible for seeing fine details clearly. When the macula is damaged, one experiences darkness Examples of juvenile macular dystrophies are Stargardt’s or blurriness in the center of vision, but the peripheral is Disease, Best Disease, and Juvenile Retinoschisis. Other not affected. There are two types of age-related macular inherited dystrophies include Sorsby’s, Pattern, Bull’s Eye, degeneration, dry and wet: and PXE. </p><p> Dry: This is the most common form, where the What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration? tissues of the macula become thinned; There are a number of factors in the development of age-  Wet: This is the more damaging form, where related macular degeneration. Risk factors include, but are abnormal blood vessels grow behind the macula, not limited to: age (especially over 60 years), smoking, causing blood or fluid leakage, and possibly diet, blood pressure, sunlight, genetics, and gender. As a scarring, if left untreated. person ages, the macula may thin slowly: the retinal cells die off and are not regenerated. Around 10-15% of those What eye functions are affected and to what extent? diagnosed with dry type will develop the wet type, which develops more suddenly. The macula is a small (6mm diameter) oval-shaped yellow spot near the center of the retina at the back of the eye. What are the implications? In the center of the macula is the fovea, a small area which contains the largest concentration of cone cells in the eye. Vocationally, blurred vision will affect reading and close Thus, the macula is responsible for seeing central vision, work activities. Avocationally, the greatest risks are with fine details like color, and high acuity, or sharp vision. driving. Central vision also affects the ability to recognize faces. These implications affect a wide spectrum of Loss of function varies depending on which part of the lifestyle for a patient. It is important that macula is affected. accommodations are generalized from home to school/work/hobby.  Loss of function in the photoreceptor cells What are the common treatments?  Loss of central vision Treatment can’t reverse the effects of macular  Causes legal blindness degeneration, but it may slow the progression of the disease. Both juvenile and age-related macular  Damaged parts are permanently lost degeneration have new treatments in study and practice. Treatments include but are not limited to: What are the symptoms?  Vitamins  The loss of ability to see objects clearly  Life-style changes such as diet  Seeing straight lines as wavy  Regular eye exam schedule  Vision is distorted References:  Loss of clear colors  Kellogg . (2014). Patient Care, Macular Degeneration.  A dark empty area in the center of vision Retrieved June 28, 2014, from  Objects may appear as the wrong shape http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/patientcare/conditions or size /macular.degeneration.html  Difficulty in reading or seeing things up closely  Montgomery, T. (2014). Anatomy, Physiology, and  Increasing difficulty adapting to low light levels Pathology of the Human Eye. Retrieved June 28, 2014, from http://www.tedmontgomery.com/the_eye/</p><p> Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Dry macular degeneration. Retrieved June 28, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases- conditions/macular- degeneration/basics/definition/con-20075882 </p><p> Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014) Wet macular degeneration. Retrieved June 28, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases- conditions/wet-macular- degeneration/basics/definition/con-20043518 </p><p> The Dictionary of Eye Terminology, 3 rd Ed. Cassin B., Solomom, S.A.B. </p><p> Macular Societies. (2014). Dystrophies. Retrieved July 10, 2014, from</p><p> http://www.macularsociety.org/about-macular- conditions/Dystrophies </p>