What is macular degeneration? ​ Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world for patients 60 years of age or older. It is projected to affect 196 million people worldwide by 2020. The macula is the central portion of the retina in the back of the eye. The photoreceptors in the macula are responsible tasks that require our central vision, such as reading and driving. ​ In patients with a genetic predisposition, changes in the