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Most low vision diseases affect the macula, which is the part of the eye where central, or detail, vision originates. Light reaches the macula where it is concentrated and passed via the optic nerve to the brain, so images can be formed.

At the center of the macula is an area called the fovea. This is where the greatest number of cells are concentrated. The fovea is the true focal point of detail vision.

Whenever light strikes the fovea, a waste product called drusen is formed. The healthy macula simply disposes of this waste naturally. When macula degeneration strikes, this waste removal process is affected. Drusen builds up and begins to interfere with detail vision. Moreover, this buildup begins to contaminate adjoining cells, so that the destruction of central vision progressively worsens.

Other than some recently developed, injectible drugs that reduce the bleeding associated with wet macular degeneration, there is no cure for the macular damage caused by AMD.