In the United States, the leading cause of visual loss among older citizens is a macular degeneration. Since the US is composed of an aging population, it is estimated that the number of people who are affected by this disease will increase. Macular degeneration (MD) refers to the deterioration of the macula region of the eye. This is a small central region of the eye responsible for controlling visual acuity. It is found on the retina. When in need of curing macular degeneration Bethesda should be visited.

The human eye is equipped for perusing, perceiving faces, and doing whatever other activity that requires seeing fine subtle details if the macula is healthy. It is estimated that most Americans above the age of 40 have some form of muscular degeneration. It is more popular among the white population with 14 percent of whites above 80 years old being affected.

There are two main diagnosis of MD, that is, dry or wet macular degeneration. Dry MD is also referred to as non-neovascular MD while wet MD is also referred to as neovascular MD. Neovascular is a term that is used to refer to the growth of new blood vessels in an area where they are not supposed to grow naturally. An example of such a place is the macula.

According to statistics, the dry MD is more common than the wet one. Actually, all diagnoses consist a percentage of 85 to 90 of the dry MD. The wet MD usually causes more severe damage in comparison to the dry form. In both forms of the disease, the part that is usually affected is central vision thus causing direct blind spots ahead.

There are a number of factors that contribute to dry MD but the main factors include thinning and aging of the muscular tissues. The tissues usually store pigment in the muscular as they age and thin. This form of MD may also be caused by age and it mostly occurs in older people. Also, the condition may strike youngsters when the macular begins to thin.

The dry form of the condition does not always cause vision loss that is as severe as the one caused by wet MD. However, it can cause degradation of retinal cells over a period of many years. This later causes equally severe loss of vision. At the moment, dry MD does not have any FDA-approved treatment even though a few drugs are in clinical trial stages.

Studies that are underway indicate that the risk of dry MD advancing to wet MD can be reduced by consuming a diet rich in zeaxanthin and lutein. However, the studies have not demonstrated if nutritional supplements have any preventive effects of MD in general. Other ways that were suggested for preventing the development of MD are wearing sunglasses, exercising, and eating healthy diet.

It has been established that 10 percent of dry MD progresses to wet MD when new blood vessels develop under the retina. This results in leaking of fluid and blood. The leak leads to destruction of retinal cells responsible for vision. This leads to permanent blindness and development of blind spots in central vision.