Macular degeneration question  Question: My mother was just
diagnosed with macular degeneration. What is it and what can we
do about it?  Answer: This is something I’m familiar with since
the agency I work for provides training and services to many
individuals who have this condition. Macular Degeneration is the
leading cause of vision loss for Americans 65 and older.    Here
are some basic facts about Mac-D.  The macula is the center part
of the retina. This area is responsible for the clear, detailed
central vision we use for many everyday tasks, such as reading,
driving or even identifying facial features.    When the macula
becomes damaged, a blind spot develops in the central part of
the visual field.  Depending on the extent of the damage, this
blank spot can be relatively small or take up most of the
central field. The earlier the condition is detected, the better
the chances are to keep it from getting worse. While younger
individuals can have macular degeneration, this is a problem
most commonly foun