Macular hypoplasia
Encyclopedia
Macular hypoplasia, also known as fovea hypoplasia, is a rare medical condition involving the underdevelopment of the macula
, a small area on the retina
(the eye's internal surface) responsible for seeing in detail. Macular hypoplasia is often associated with albinism
.
Macula
The macula or macula lutea is an oval-shaped highly pigmented yellow spot near the center of the retina of the human eye. It has a diameter of around 5 mm and is often histologically defined as having two or more layers of ganglion cells...
, a small area on the retina
Retina
The vertebrate retina is a light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina, which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Light striking the retina initiates a cascade of chemical and electrical...
(the eye's internal surface) responsible for seeing in detail. Macular hypoplasia is often associated with albinism
Albinism
Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to absence or defect of an enzyme involved in the production of melanin...
.