Macular Degeneration Disease Glossary
Navigating a diagnosis of an age-related disease can be overwhelming, especially with all the new medical terms involved. Whether you're preparing for a doctor’s visit or simply want to better understand a macular degeneration diagnosis, this glossary serves as a quick reference to help you define and understand commonly used terms.
Anterior chamber
The region of the eye between the cornea and the lens that contains aqueous humor.
Aqueous humor
The clear fluid produced in the front of the eye. It provides nutrition to the eye and maintains the eye in a pressurized state.
Bruch’s membrane
Located in the retina between the choroid and the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) layer; provides support to the retina and functions as the ‘basement’ membrane of the RPE layer.
Choroid
Layer of the eye behind the retina; contains blood vessels that nourish the retina.
Ciliary body
Part of the eye, above the lens, that produces the aqueous humor.
Cones
The photoreceptor nerve cells present in the macula and concentrated in the fovea (the very center of the macula); enable people to see fine detail and color.