Macular Degeneration (IMAGE)
Caption
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) gradually destroys sharp, central vision. It is the most common cause of blindness among the elderly. There are two forms: dry AMD and the typically more severe and faster-acting wet AMD. In dry AMD, light-sensitive cells in the center of the retina slowly break down, obscuring central vision. In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina, leak and disrupt vision. In this image, drusen -- yellowish deposits of cellular debris -- accumulate in a case of dry AMD.
Credit
University of California San Diego School of Medicine
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