NEI image of how someone with macular degeneration sees: overall blurriness with a blind spot in the center
What a person with AMD sees

Are you experiencing blurring or a blind spot in the center of your vision? Are you seeing blurry areas on a printed page? Do some straight lines appear wavy? Are there dark spaces or areas in the center of your vision? It might be age-related macular degeneration.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a gradual, progressive, painless deterioration of the macula, which is the small area in the center of the retina that gives us our detailed vision. This is why someone with vision loss from macular degeneration may have trouble reading mail or newspapers but have no trouble spotting an object off to the side or while walking around, even in unfamiliar places. Learn more in Macular Degeneration: An Overview.

Learn about low vision services services; low vision exams; and helpful products. Find out how others are coping with vision loss and about helpful support groups.

New to vision loss? Our Getting Started Kit can help with living with vision loss from macular degeneration.