What disease affects the macula and leads to central scotoma and loss of central visual acuity?

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye disease that primarily affects the macula, which is the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision necessary for tasks like reading and recognizing faces. When AMD occurs, it can lead to the development of central scotomas, which are areas of visual field loss in the center of vision, and a corresponding decline in central visual acuity. This happens due to the degeneration of photoreceptor cells in the macula, resulting in a loss of detailed vision while peripheral vision may remain intact. The impact on the macula makes AMD distinctly associated with these debilitating visual symptoms, differentiating it from other conditions listed, which affect vision in other ways or focus on different retinal areas.