Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration
The macula, also called the "yellow spot", is a small area exactly in the centre of the retina. This spot, only a few square millimetres in size, is responsible for essential visual functions such as reading, recognising faces and distinguishing colours. The rest of the retina mainly perceives only outlines and light-dark contrasts.
The macula has a high metabolic rate, and its waste products are disposed of by the tissue layer beneath it. With advancing age, usually from the age of 60, disturbances can occur that lead to deposits under the retina and thus to functional impairment. This process is called macular degeneration, with the result that vision in the centre of the visual field becomes blurred or distorted, or a dark spot appears. Since only the centre of the retina is affected, the peripheral visual field is preserved.
Two forms of macular degeneration are distinguished: dry and wet macular degeneration. In the dry form, deposits form in the retina, while in wet macular degeneration fluid leaks into the retina. With optical coherence tomography (OCT) we are able to produce high-resolution images of the retinal layers of the macula in our practice. This non-invasive method has become the gold standard in the diagnosis of macular diseases. The procedure is painless and safe.