Macular degeneration is a progressive eye disease that affects the center of your vision, making it difficult to see things in front of you. Several factors cause macular degeneration, such as age, genetics, lifestyle, and exposures.

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition characterized by a worsening blurring of vision in the center of your eye. It affects the Macula or center of the retina – the group of cells at the back of your eye that converts what you see to signals that go to your brain.

Several factors cause macular degeneration, such as age, genetics, and life experiences. Read on to learn more about the factors that contribute to macular degeneration.

There is not one single cause for macular degeneration. Several factors may be involved in why an individual develops it. These include:

The primary cause of macular degeneration is aging. It’s such a key factor that one type of macular degeneration is called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Your risk of developing macular degeneration increases dramatically after age 55 and continues to increase as you age. This is due to changes in your retina that make it less able to regenerate and function as it did when you were younger.

Having one or more family members with macular degeneration is one risk factor for developing it. So, researchers knew that genetics played a major role. Genetic research has identified over 100 different areas on your chromosomes that may play a role in creating macular degeneration, with the CFH and ARMS2/HTRA1 genes being the most frequently involved genes. Researchers estimate that up to 71% of what causes macular degeneration is genetic.

Macular degeneration may be caused by exposures you’ve had during your life and habits you may have, such as:

  • Sunlight: Chronic sun exposure is the strongest proven factor in developing macular degeneration. This risk factor is stronger in men than women. Researchers suspect sun exposure damages retinal cells and is cumulative, so the more time you’ve spent in the sun, and individuals who live in places with more sunlight and warmer weather, may be more likely to develop macular degeneration.
  • Smoking: Smoking cigarettes is a proven risk factor, as is exposure to second-hand or passive cigarette smoke. Researchers suspect this is due to oxidative stress and damage to the blood vessels in the retina.
  • Living in urban areas: Researchers aren’t exactly sure why, but living in a larger urban area or city increases the risk of developing macular degeneration. They suspect it may be due to exposure to pollution and poor air quality.
  • Sleep: Individuals who get too little sleep, less than 6 hours on average per night, and those who get too much sleep, more than 8 hours on average, are both at an increased risk of developing macular degeneration. It’s unclear why.

Oxidative stress happens when there are too many free radicals – unstable molecules – in your body and not enough antioxidants – substances that protect your cells from the damage of free radicals. These are certain vitamins and minerals you eat.

Having too many free radicals can cause inflammation – the way your body responds to stress and attacks by viruses, bacteria, free radicals, and other substances. If inflammation affects your retina, it may lead to macular degeneration.

If your body doesn’t effectively metabolize fat, fatty deposits can accumulate in and around the retina, leading to inflammation and contributing to macular degeneration.

Individuals who don’t consume enough antioxidants, specifically ones associated with preventing macular degeneration, are at higher risk of developing macular degeneration. So far, research suggests that consuming enough of these antioxidants may help slow or prevent macular degeneration:

There are other known conditions and factors that may increase your risk of developing macular degeneration. These include:

Yes, several vision tests are used to diagnose macular degeneration. Your ophthalmologist will perform one or more of these tests. Tests that diagnose macular degeneration include:

  • Visual acuity test: This is a routine eye exam. If your vision has gotten significantly worse since your last exam, it might mean you have macular degeneration.
  • Amsler grid test: You will cover one eye and look at a grid pattern, and repeat with the other eye. If the grid is wavy, blurry, or missing sections, this might be a sign that you have macular degeneration.
  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans: These tests let your doctor examine the blood vessels in your retina to determine whether they are healthy.
  • Fluorescein angiography: During this test, your doctor looks at your retina. If you have white or yellow spots, it might mean you have macular degeneration.
  • Ophthalmoscopy (fundoscopy): Your doctor will shine a bright light in your eye and examine structures in the back of your eye, like your optic nerve, blood vessels, and retina. Your doctor may dilate your eyes with drops to help you see better.

It is not complete blindness, but as the condition progresses, it becomes impossible to see what is directly in front of your eyes. You will have to depend on your side and peripheral vision.

Several factors contribute to the development of macular degeneration. Age is the main factor, but genetics, exposure, and lifestyle also play an important role.

Macular degeneration develops over time, but speeds up after age 55. If you have a family history of macular degeneration or think you may have visual changes due to macular degeneration, talk with your doctor or eye care professional. While there is no cure for macular degeneration, there are things you can do to slow its progression.