Macular degeneration (MD) is the most common cause of blindness in developed countries and results in a significant reduction in quality of life. It first causes damage to the outer retinal layers of the eye leading to central visual field loss. Although treatments are under development to restore vision, these assume that the rest of the visual pathway remains intact and functional. I will present evidence that macular degeneration leads to structural and functional changes in other parts of the visual pathways, as well as more widespread effects on the brain and cognition.