Macular degeneration is an eye disease that leads to irreversible visual impairments due to damage to the macula, which is essential for central vision. It is a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in people over age 50 and affects approximately 2 million people globally.

Macular degeneration progresses through 3 stages: early, intermediate, and late; symptoms range from no noticeable effects in the early stage to blurred vision and central blindness in the late stage. The late stage can be further divided into dry and wet forms; the wet form is less common but more likely to cause blindness.

Macular degeneration is primarily diagnosed through a dilated fundus examination to check for drusen and pigmentation abnormalities. Additional tests, such as optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography, may be conducted to confirm or rule out wet/neovascular macular degeneration, along with ophthalmological assessments of visual function.

There is no cure for macular degeneration, so treatment focuses on preventing or slowing its progression by avoiding risk factors like smoking. For wet/neovascular macular degeneration, VEGF inhibitors can be injected into the eye to help slow disease progression.

Several supplements — including vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, lutein, and zeaxanthin — have been studied for their effects on macular degeneration. A important clinical trial indicated that lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation can slow disease progression in people with intermediate stage macular degeneration.

A Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk and slower progression of macular degeneration; increased fish consumption may reduce risk, and higher red meat intake may increase it. Additionally, foods that are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, such as green vegetables and eggs, may help lower the risk of late-stage macular degeneration.

In rare cases, photodynamic therapy can be used to slow the progression of certain types of wet macular degeneration. This treatment involves administering a drug and exposing the eye to light that activates the drug.

Macular degeneration is caused by damage to the macula, and potential contributing factors include inflammation, oxidative stress, and aging, which is a major risk factor. Other risk factors include smoking, alcohol consumption, type 2 diabetes, limited physical activity, lighter iris color, and genetic variations in specific genes.