Retinal degeneration. Ophthalmoscope view of the retina of a patient's eye, showing disciform macular degeneration (yellow patch). The macula is the part of the retina responsible for the sharpest vision. The condition is most common in the elderly, where it is caused by changes to the blood vessels supplying the retina. This leads to a lack of oxygen reaching the macula, damaging the tissue and disturbing the central part of the visual field. It may also be caused by an injury to the eye. If the condition is diagnosed early, laser surgery may halt its progression, but if left untreated, central vision can be permanently destroyed.