Age-related macular degeneration is a progressive disease which causes changes in the retinal tissues of the eye. Portions of the retina may become unhealthy, and vision may become affected as the tissues cease to function properly.

The anatomy section of this website is a good place to begin learning about the parts of the eye and the retina that are affected by macular degeneration.

The majority of people with macular degeneration have an early form of the condition and experience minimal visual loss. For many of these people, macular degeneration will not progress to a more serious condition.

If macular degeneration progresses to visual loss, 90% of the affected people will develop the dry, or atrophic form of the disease.

The other 10% of people will develop a more serious condition known as the Wet, or exudative, form of macular degeneration.