A patient with macular degeneration will primarily have difficulty with which type of vision?

A patient with macular degeneration primarily experiences difficulty with central vision. This condition affects the macula, which is the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision needed for tasks such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces. As macular degeneration progresses, the patient may notice a blurred or spotty area in the center of their visual field, making it challenging to see clearly in this area.

Peripheral vision generally remains intact in individuals with macular degeneration, allowing them to maintain a sense of their surroundings. Night vision may also be less affected, as the macula is primarily associated with detailed vision in well-lit conditions rather than low-light environments. Although color vision can alter in some visual impairments, macular degeneration mainly compromises the clarity and detail of what is seen centrally. Thus, the hallmark difficulty that defines this condition is indeed related to central vision impairment.