I chose to do my Perception Project about Macular Degeneration. My father suffers from this and he has described the various ways it has changed his vision and his perception. I also spoke to my eye doctor for additional information.

There are two kinds of Macular Degeneration: wet and dry. The dry kind is the most common, but the wet kind leads to more serious vision loss. As this disease progresses, there are a few stages and impacts upon the patient’s perception and vision.

Are Those Lines Waving at Me?

Some patients will experience straight lines looking curved or wavy. There is also a loss of contrast.

 

Is That A Gray Flower?

Macular Degeneration can also lead to the loss of certain colors. Depending on how severe the condition is, patients may lose pastel colors and colors at the lower end of the wavelengths…such as the pretty purple of this flower.

 

Did My Son Have A Plastic Surgery Accident?

As the condition gets worse, Macular Degeneration can distort the vision. Patients may see twisted images and familiar objects or people may become unrecognizable.

 

Avoid the Black Dot

When Macular Degeneration gets to its most severe, patients will lose their center vision and see a black circle in the middle of their eyesight. This is how my dad sees out of one of his eyes.

For more info about Macular Degeneration, please visit the Macular Degeneration Association’s Website.