Symptoms and Causes of Macular Degeneration
As we get older, especially after age 65 we are at a higher risk of developing macular degeneration. Heredity may be one reason why but there are other causes as well, such as being a smoker, having high blood pressure, or someone with less protective pigment associated with lighter colored eyes. Other risk factors are the use of certain medications. Macular degeneration symptoms are painless and may consist of needing to turn up lights, or adding more bulbs in order to see better. In addition, the eyes may not readily adjust to dinner house lighting. There may be blurring, haziness, and often as the disease progresses, a dark circle may form in the center of the person’s vision which does not move. Lastly, a condition called Charles Bonnet syndrome may develop which causes faces and objects to take on bizarre or animal like forms.