Retina is the membrane that lines the inside of the eye. It receives the light rays and conveys the signal through the optic nerve to the brain. It has two parts, the peripheral part and the central part called as macula.

Flashes and Floaters
Few of us see flashes of light, stars or streaks that aren’t really there. Flashes are caused by the vitreous (the gel filling the inside of the eye) pulling on the retina. Flashes are seen by near sighted people who have fuzzy distant vision and sometimes it may be a sign of other eye problems.

Floaters are dark specks, clouds, threads or spider webs moving though the vision. They are pieces of gel or material floating inside the eye. Age is a leading cause of floaters, other being injury or surgery of the eye. If it appears suddenly or increase in number, it may be a sign of retinal disease.

Most flashes and floaters require no treatment. However one should get the eyes examine to rule out any major problems.

Macular Degeneration
Macula is the smallest area in the retina which is responsible for central vision. Deterioration or breakdown of macula is called as macular degeneration. It causes blurriness, dark areas or distortion. Peripheral vision may not be affected.

It is a part of natural aging process called as ARMD or Age Related Macular Degeneration, AMRD is among a leading cause of visual disability in people over 65 years of age.

ARMD is of two types: Dry and Wet

Dry ARMD is atrophic in nature where thinning of the tissues of the macula takes place and visual loss is gradual.

Wet or the exudative type results when abnormal blood vessels from beneath the retina. These new vessels leak fluid or blood and blur the central vision, which may be rapid and severe.

 

ARMD may affect one or both eyes, it causes:

	Blurring of the words on a page,
	Dark or empty areas appear in the centre of the vision,
	Straight lines look distorted