Macular degeneration

A progressive eye disease that damages the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. It is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50, affecting central vision while typically leaving peripheral vision intact. This means people with macular degeneration can see around objects but have difficulty seeing fine details directly ahead — making reading, recognizing faces, and using screens particularly challenging. There are two forms: dry (gradual thinning of the macula, accounting for about 80% of cases) and wet (abnormal blood vessel growth causing rapid vision loss). For digital accessibility, macular degeneration users rely heavily on screen magnification, high contrast, large text, and text-to-speech, and they develop distinctive gaze patterns that favor eccentric viewing — looking slightly off-center to use their remaining peripheral vision.