Final answer:
Macular degeneration, especially age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is an eye disease that causes progressive loss of central vision due to macula deterioration. It is different from cataracts, which cause clouding of the lens but can be treated with lens replacement, and from presbyopia, which involves loss of close-up focus.
Step-by-step explanation:
An age-related eye disease characterized by progressive deterioration of the macula lutea leading to a loss of visual focus is macular degeneration. Macular degeneration, specifically age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a common cause of blindness and occurs due to the death of cells in the macula, which is critical for high visual acuity. As the disease progresses, patients experience a black spot in their central vision that enlarges over time leading to significant vision loss.
Cataracts, on the other hand, are a clouding of the eye's lens leading to decreased vision, but cataracts can often be treated successfully by replacing the lens. Presbyopia is another age-associated vision problem caused by the loss of the eye's ability to focus on close objects, typically corrected with lenses. Understanding these conditions and their treatments is important for maintaining eye health as we age.