Which condition causes progressive damage to the macula of the retina?

• A. Glaucoma
• B. Cortical Visual Impairment
• C. Retinitis Pigmentosa
• D. Macular Degeneration

Answer: (D)

The central idea is that degeneration specifically affecting the macula, the retina’s center responsible for sharp, detailed vision, leads to progressive loss of central vision. Macular Degeneration is the condition that targets this area and tends to worsen over time, often in older adults. Its two forms—dry, with gradual thinning and drusen buildup under the retina, and wet, with abnormal blood vessel growth that can rapidly damage the macula—explain why central vision becomes blurred, distorted, or lost while peripheral vision may remain relatively intact early on.

Other conditions affect vision differently: glaucoma damages the optic nerve and typically starts with peripheral vision loss; Retinitis Pigmentosa begins with peripheral vision loss and night blindness, with central vision affected later; Cortical Visual Impairment stems from brain processing issues rather than retinal disease.