Macular Hole

The macula is a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye and covers a very small area at the center of the retina, and is responsible for pinpoint vision, allowing you to read, sew or recognize a face.

Eye is filled with a gel-like substance called vitreous, which lies in front of the macula. As you young, there will be no negative effect on your eye sight if the gel shrinks and pull away from macula but as we grow older the effect of the gel in the middle of our eyes shrinks and pulls away from macula.

If the gel sticks to the macula and doesn't pull away then the macular tissue stretches and eventually tears, forming a hole – a Macular Hole.

Macular holes are associated with aging and usually occur in people over the age of 60. Less common causes of macular holes include injury to the eye and long-term swelling of the macula.

Symptoms of Macula Hole include:

·      Decreased ability to see fine details

·      Vision distortion

·      A dark or blind spot in the center of the field of vision.

For more details about Macular Hole you can read the original article published on Geteyesmart.org.

It is important to note that if the macula is damaged, you will not lose your vision entirely. You will still have peripheral, or side, vision.

If any of these symptoms occur, it is important to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible. You can drop in at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore in Florida or any of our three locations for your eye exam by an Independent Doctor of Optometry. You can also schedule an online exam here.