Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Catherine J Thomas; Rukhsana G Mirza; Manjot K Gill

doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2021.01.003

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Med Clin North Am. 2021 May;105(3):473-491. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2021.01.003. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Authors

Catherine J Thomas¹, Rukhsana G Mirza¹, Manjot K Gill²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 645 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 440, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/SportsDoc2009.
² Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 645 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 440, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: mgill@nm.org.

PMID: 33926642
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2021.01.003

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness. The main risk factor is advancing age, with the severity of vision loss ranging from mild to severe. There is a 25% risk of early AMD and 8% risk of late AMD in patients over the age of 75, with the number of cases expected to increase because of the aging population. Diagnosis of the disease requires a dilated fundus examination. Physicians should be aware of the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options for AMD to refer appropriately for ophthalmologic evaluation. Early detection can be helpful to prevent disease progression.

Keywords: Choroidal neovascularization (CNV); Drusen; Geographic atrophy; Neovascular (exudative, wet) age-related macular degeneration; Nonneovascular (nonexudative, dry) age-related macular degeneration; Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Blindness / etiology
Blindness / therapy
Humans
Macular Degeneration* / diagnosis
Macular Degeneration* / epidemiology
Macular Degeneration* / physiopathology
Macular Degeneration* / therapy
Risk Factors
Sensory Aids
Vision, Low / etiology
Vision, Low / therapy