Is your macula “old”? Many patients have the misconception that “macula” is an abnormal phenomenon that occurs with age. We are often asked by patients, “Doctor, do I have an old macula? In fact, the “macula” is a normal structure on the retina of the eye, located in the center of the retina, which is the most sensitive and primary location for visual precision and color recognition. The “old macula” in the patient’s mouth is actually “age-related macular degeneration”, which is a kind of macular degeneration. What is “age-related macular degeneration”? Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), also known as age-related macular degeneration, is one of the main causes of irreversible damage to the vision of people over 45 years old. With the improvement of people’s living standard and the aging of the population, AMD has become one of the common blindness-causing eye diseases in China. It is divided into two types: atrophic (dry) and exudative (wet). What are the main manifestations of AMD? Vision loss: Macula is the place where people see most acutely, and if lesions occur here, vision will be severely reduced. Distortion of visual objects: When you look at straight objects, you will find that the straight lines are bent. Discoloration of visual objects: The color of the object changes. Some people find that the color of the object becomes darker or even black in the center, and some people see that the central object becomes black and white, blue, red and other colors. Central dark shadows: When you look at something, there is always a dark shadow in the center, which usually does not change position with the rotation of the eye and is usually in the central part. The onset of AMD can be rapid or slow: some patients with macular degeneration have a slow loss of vision, accompanied by distortion and discoloration of visual objects; some patients have a sudden onset of fundus hemorrhage, and this kind of patients have a rapid onset, and often cannot see anything in a day or two. What are the causes of AMD? Age is only one of the causes of AMD, but it is also related to various factors such as ethnicity, hypertension, coronary heart disease, smoking, nutrition, sun damage, and family genetics. Treatment and prevention of AMD There is no specific prevention method for AMD, but the focus is on “early detection and early treatment”, and timely consultation should be made when the above symptoms appear. Currently, the main treatment options are anti-VEGF therapy, laser therapy, PDT therapy, and surgery, which are based on the patient’s fundus examination and ophthalmic imaging. In addition, a healthy diet and lifestyle should be promoted, with less high-fat food, regular control of blood pressure and blood sugar, no smoking, less alcohol, and dark glasses to prevent sun damage.