Will I Go Blind From Macular Degeneration?

No. Total blindness from macular degeneration is extremely rare. Macular degeneration typically affects the central part of vision, referred to as the macula. The macula actually represents a very small component of a patient’s overall visual field. Therefore, while central vision can be significantly compromised, a patient’s peripheral field (vision outside of the center) is not affected. This knowledge is reassuring to most patients with macular degeneration.

Although central vision is extremely important for activities such as reading, watching television, and recognizing faces, peripheral vision is helpful for maintaining some degree of independence, walking, and avoiding bumping into things. Many patients confuse or mistake the idea of legal blindness with true blindness. These terms are addressed in the following question.