What is the leading cause of blindness in the United States for persons over the age of 65?

• A. Macular degeneration
• B. Cataracts
• C. Glaucoma
• D. Diabetic retinopathy

Answer: (A)

Age-related macular degeneration damages the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision needed for reading, recognizing faces, and fine detail. In people over 65 in the United States, AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness because central vision loss is permanent and harder to compensate for, whereas other conditions often affect vision in ways that are more treatable. Cataracts are extremely common and cause blur, but they are highly treatable with surgery, which frequently restores vision, so they don’t account for the majority of blindness in this age group. Glaucoma tends to affect peripheral vision first, and diabetic retinopathy varies with diabetes control, but AMD remains the most common cause of blindness among older adults.