Final answer:
Stargardt's disease causes vision loss due to macular degeneration, resulting in a blind spot in the central visual field. It's a genetic disorder affecting the macula and differs from other correctable defects such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stargardt's disease commonly causes vision loss in the form of macular degeneration. This genetic disorder affects the macula, which is an area of the retina responsible for sharp central vision and high visual acuity, vital for activities such as reading and driving. Stargardt's disease leads to progressive damage to the macula, typically resulting in a blurry or blind spot in the center of the visual field, while peripheral vision remains unaffected.
While Stargardt's disease specifically leads to macular degeneration, other common vision defects include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, which is due to irregularities in the curvature of the cornea or lens. Unlike these other defects that can be corrected with lenses, there is currently no cure for the vision loss caused by Stargardt's disease, though ongoing research aims to find treatments to slow or stop the progression of this condition.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is another form of macular degeneration and is the most common cause of blindness in the Western hemisphere due to the death of cells in the macula. Like Stargardt's disease, AMD causes a loss of central vision, but it mainly affects older adults, whereas Stargardt's typically begins in childhood or adolescence.