By Dr Andrew Thompson
One of the most common eye problems I see is macular degeneration (MD), a condition that causes progressive loss of central vision. MD affects the central part of the retina (the light sensitive tissue that lines the inside of the back of the eye) called the macula. The macula allows you to read, recognise faces, watch television and drive. MD affects one in seven New Zealanders over the age of 50 years, one in four people over the age of 80 years, and is the most common cause of blindness in New Zealand.