What is a common symptom associated with macular degeneration?

Loss of central vision is a hallmark symptom associated with macular degeneration, a condition that primarily affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for detailed vision. This progressive disease often leads to difficulty in tasks that require fine vision, such as reading or recognizing faces, because the macula is crucial for sharp, straight-ahead vision.

The disorder can be classified into two types: dry and wet macular degeneration. In both cases, as the condition advances, individuals may find that their central visual field becomes blurred or even lost, while peripheral vision typically remains intact. This central vision loss is particularly significant because it can severely impact quality of life, affecting daily activities and independence.

In contrast, other choices don’t represent common symptoms of macular degeneration. Color blindness is related to the function of cones in the retina and is not a symptom of this particular condition. Narrowing of peripheral vision is more characteristic of conditions such as glaucoma rather than macular degeneration, and increased night vision does not align with the symptoms of macular degeneration, as this condition generally does not enhance nighttime or low-light vision. Thus, the selection of loss of central vision accurately reflects a significant and well-recognized impact of macular degeneration on patients' vision.