Macular Degeneration Disease Glossary
Navigating a diagnosis of an age-related disease can be overwhelming, especially with all the new medical terms involved. Whether you're preparing for a doctor’s visit or simply want to better understand a macular degeneration diagnosis, this glossary serves as a quick reference to help you define and understand commonly used terms.
Lens
The transparent structure suspended behind the iris that helps to focus light on the retina; it primarily provides a fine-tuning adjustment to the primary focusing structure of the eye, which is the cornea.
Macula
The portion of the eye at the center of the retina in the back of the eye that processes sharp, clear, straight-ahead vision. Damage to the macula results in blind spots and blurred or distorted vision.
Optic nerve
The bundle of nerve fibers at the back of the eye that carry visual messages from the retina to the brain.
Photoreceptors
The light-sensing nerve cells (rods and cones) located in the retina.
Pupil
The adjustable opening at the center of the iris through which light enters the eye.
Retina
The light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. It captures the light that enters the eye and sends it to the brain so we can see.