The macula is part of the eye’sretina.
Learn more about the important role the macula plays inside the eye.
Anatomy
Structure
The macula is an oval-shaped area near the center of the retina.
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The retina is a light-sensitive layer that lines the back of the eye.
It is made up of 200 million neurons, but is only about 0.2 millimeters thick.
Images that you see come through the eye’s lens and are focused on the retina.
The retina then converts these images to electric signals and sends them to the brain.
In the center of the macula is the fovea.
The fovea is the area that allows for the sharpest visual acuity.
It contains a large amount ofconesnerve cells that are photoreceptors with high acuity.
Color
The macula is yellow in color.
The yellow color is derived fromluteinandzeaxanthinin the diet, both yellow xanthophyllcarotenoids contained within the macula.
Function
The main function of the macula is to provide sharp, clear, straight-ahead vision.
It is responsible for all of our central vision and most of our color vision.
The fine detail we see is made possible by the macula.
Several problems can affect the macula.
The most common ismacular degeneration.
Other common conditions that affect the macula are macular edema and macular hole.
The condition primarily affects people age 65 and older.
AMD cannot be cured.
Common Risk Factors for Macular Degeneration
There are two types of AMD.
Dry AMD progresses very slowly through three stages: early, intermediate, and advanced.
The earliest stage is characterized mainly by the presence of drusen and normal vision or mild visual loss.
Macular tissue atrophy and mild scarring may also develop.
The degree of vision loss varies with dry AMD.
Dry AMD can lead to geographic atrophy which can cause significant vision loss.
The dry form of AMDmay progressto the more severe wet form.
New blood vessel growth (neovascularization) occurs underneath the retina.
Although these vessels are new, they are frail in nature.
Scarring may occur, causing significant loss of vision and sometimes legal blindness.
Macular Edema
Macular edemaoccurs when fluid builds up in the macula.
This buildup distorts vision as the macula swells and thickens.
Macular edema can develop from any disease that damages blood vessels in the retina.
Macular edema is often triggered by diabetic retinopathy, a disease that can happen to people with diabetes.
As the hole forms, central vision can become blurry, wavy, or distorted.
It is important to alert your eye care professional if you note any of the following changes.
Sebag J.What is the macula?VRM Institute.
BrightFocus Foundation.Understanding macular degeneration.
Boyd K.What is a macular hole?American Academy of Ophthalmology.
NIH National Eye Institute.Macular edema.
Porter D.What is macular edema?American Academy of Ophthalmology.
