The dry type may set the stage for the less common but more severe wet form in which blood vessels and scar tissue begin to grow abnormally beneath the retina, leading to permanent damage of the macula. The macula is located at the center of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. The retina converts light, or images, into nerve impulses that are carried to the brain via the optic nerve. People with AMD may gradually lose their central vision, which can seriously impact their quality of life.