New developments in age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 3 million people (9% of global blindness) are blinded by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD affects people over the age of 55. There are two main types of AMD, dry and wet. In dry AMD, patients slowly lose vision through progressive atrophy of the macular tissue. Wet, or exudative, AMD, is associated with new blood vessels called subretinal neovascular membranes (or SRNVM) and affected patients lose vision more rapidly due to fluid leakage and haemorrhage at the macula.

Keywords

• Macular Degeneration
• Age Factors
• Epidemiology
• Smoking
• Risk Factors
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease