Macula Lutea
In Latin "macula" means spot and "lutea' means yellow. Indeed on a fundus picture it shows up as a yellowish spot.The macula is responsible for our straight ahead or central vision as well as our sharp, detailed vision. Here is a picture of a healthy retina. The macula is the slightly redder spot just right of the center. The brighter, yellowish area is the optic nerve.
Images licensed via Creative Commons from Richard Masoner Definition of Macular DegenerationHere you can see from this picture where the macula lutea is located. The fovea is an even smaller spot in the center of the macula.
1)
The Choroid
- Rich with capillaries and supplies blood and oxygen to the photoreceptor cells 2)
Bruch's Membrane
4) Photoreceptor Cells are cells that convert light into electrical messages. These messages are sent to the optic nerve which then goes to the brain. As we age, the supporting tissue to the macula are not functioning as well and do not get the needed nutrients and oxygen to these cells. The transport of these nutrients are affected as well as the removal of waste products. When this happens the photoreceptor cells begin to degenerate and/or die which leads to macular degeneration. Macular Degeneration SymptomsWhy should we be so concerned about the macula and the health of the macula? This small, but powerful spot in our retina is responsible for our straight ahead or central vision.It also provides us with our sharp, detailed vision. If the macula degenerates there is a loss of central and detailed vision, making it difficult to read, drive or to recognize faces. Some of the common macular degeneration symptoms are blurred vision and straight lines appearing wavy. There are earlier symptoms that can be detected by your eye specialists. To learn more about the symptoms of macular degeneration click here:
Macular Degeneration Symptoms
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