Macula

Looks like

A yellowish spot about 5 mm across at the centre of the retina, at the back of the eye.

What it does

Gives sharp central and colour vision for reading and faces.

Keeping it well

No smoking protects it; straight lines looking wavy or a new central blur can be wet macular degeneration and needs to be seen within days.

Related conditions

• Age-related macular degeneration
• Blepharitis & styes
• Cataract
• Colour blindness
• Conjunctivitis
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Eye melanoma (uveal melanoma)
• Hyperthyroidism & Graves' disease
• Jet lag
• Keratitis (corneal infection and ulcer)
• Keratoconus
• Onchocerciasis (river blindness)
• Presbyopia
• Retinal artery occlusion (eye stroke)
• Retinal detachment
• Retinal vein occlusion
• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Retinoblastoma
• Retinopathy of prematurity
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Short and long sight (refractive error)
• Sjögren's disease
• Squint & lazy eye
• Toxoplasmosis & CMV
• Uveitis & iritis