Final answer:
One of the first signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the appearance of blind spots in the central vision, due to the death of cells in the macula.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the first signs of macular degeneration, specifically age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a) Blind spots in the central vision. This condition is the most common cause of blindness in the Western hemisphere affecting millions of individuals worldwide.
The macula an area on the retina that is vital for sharp central vision, begins to deteriorate in AMD leading to the appearance of black spots directly in the center of one's visual field. When the retinal pigment epithelium, a cell layer that provides nutrients to the macula, dies the macula is no longer supported and begins to degenerate thus initiating these vision problems.