Epidemiology Prevalence and Incidence in Dry-Form (Non-Neovascular) Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative disorder of the central retina and represents the leading cause of severe visual impairment in the elderly population of industrialized societies. It is known that it currently exists between 30 and 50 million people around the world and is estimated that will have doubled by the end of the coming decade. Several large epidemiologic studies have evaluated the prevalence of non-neovascular or so-called dry AMD. There is some variation in the prevalence of non-neovascular AMD depending on the exact definition of AMD. All of them report a higher prevalence of early AMD and an increasing prevalence with age. It is seen most in Caucasians and least in people with Africans and it is not related to gender.

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 779-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Kauppinen

AbstractProlonged life expectancies contribute to the increasing prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that is already the leading cause of severe vision loss among the elderly in developed countries. In dry AMD, the disease culminates into vast retinal atrophy, whereas the wet form is characterized by retinal edema and sudden vision loss due to neovascularization originating from the choroid beneath the Bruch’s membrane. There is no treatment for dry AMD and despite intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that suppress the neovessel formation, also wet AMD needs new therapies to prevent the disease progression and to serve patients lacking of positive response to current medicines. Knowledge on disease mechanisms is a prerequisite for the drug development, which is hindered by the multifactorial nature of AMD. Numerous distinguished publications have revealed AMD mechanisms at the cellular and molecular level and in this multi-author review, we take a bit broader look at the topic with some novel aspects.


2013 ◽  
Vol 06 (02) ◽  
pp. 144 ◽  
Author(s):  
William G Christen ◽  
Emily Y Chew ◽  
◽  

Recent findings from observational epidemiologic studies have raised concern about a possible adverse effect of regular aspirin use in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and in particular neovascular AMD, which is the leading cause of severe irreversible blindness in the US. In this report, we consider these findings in light of the relative strengths and limitations of observational studies and randomized trials. While the findings are important and warrant further investigation, the inherent limitations of observation studies, most notably uncontrolled confounding, preclude an interpretation of causality. Alternatively, the most reliable evidence with which to evaluate the effects of regular aspirin use in AMD will derive from well-designed randomized trials of sufficient size and duration.


2004 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 157-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keila Monteiro de Carvalho ◽  
Gelse Beatriz Martins Monteiro ◽  
Cassiano Rodrigues Isaac ◽  
Lineu Oto Shiroma ◽  
Marcela Scabello Amaral

PURPOSE: To determine the causes of low vision in an elderly population attended by a university visual rehabilitation service and to check for the use of prescribed optical aids. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out on patients aged 60 years or over attending for the first time a university low vision service in 2001. Ophthalmic reevaluation and interview were performed by means of a structured questionnaire in 2002. RESULTS: The sample comprised 50 subjects aged between 60 and 90 years. Severe low vision (<FONT FACE=Symbol><</FONT>20/200) was present in 68.0% of patients. The main cause of low vision was age-related macular degeneration (44.0%). Regarding literacy, 16.0% were illiterate and 72.0% had completed fundamental schooling. Thirty-one patients (62.0%) had been prescribed optical aids; 54.8% of these patients stated that they use them. A majority (70.6%) held a favorable opinion of these aids. CONCLUSIONS: The main cause of low vision was age-related macular degeneration. Approximately half of those receiving prescriptions reported actually using the aids in their daily activities. Making best use of residual vision in the elderly population with visual impairment is a priority, given the social context, if the independence necessary for enhanced quality of life is to be achieved.


The choroid is a highly vascular, pigmented tissue located between the retina and sclera. The structure and thickness of choroid can be assessed by recently developed optical coherence tomography technologies. Age-related choroidal atrophy is a choroidal pathology that affects the elderly population and often accompanies and sometimes mimics age-related macular degeneration. Patients with age-related choroidal atrophy have a better visual function but have a higher risk of developing glaucoma.


Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of blindness for the elderly population in the developed world. Although vision loss is mainly due to the neovascular form, dry AMD remains a challenge for ophthalmologists because of the lack of effective therapies. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) demonstrated the protective effect of dietary supplementation of antioxidants to slow down the progression of dry AMD. On the other hand, there has been no proven drug treatment for dry AMD to date. This review is aimed to discuss recent non-nutritional treatments for dry AMD and geographic atrophy.


Author(s):  
Swathi Kanduri ◽  
Monica Liliana Acosta ◽  
Trevor Sherwin ◽  
Charles Ninian John McGhee ◽  
Colin R Green

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly population 50 years of age or older in the developed countries. This review discusses the traditional clinical and histopathological presentation of AMD, epidemiology and genetics component in relation to the current understanding of the vascular nature of the disease. Therapeutic approaches to treat the disease are also included in the review.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Ayse Gul Kocak Altıntas ◽  

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common, degenerative disease of the retina presented as neovascular AMD (n-AMD) or non‐neovascular AMD. Several factors risk factors having been found associated with unresponsive to treatment and progression macular scar form, including subtype of the choroidal neovascular membrane (CNM), presence of subretinal drusenoid deposits, Pigment epithelial detachment (PED), decreased central choroidal thickness, preexisting Macular atopy (MA) in the fellow eye. There is no exact consensus about the term described the status of poor or non- response to any treatment regime. In this article definition of different therapeutic responses such as resistance, refractory, recurrence of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (AntiVEGF), and its relation to retinal features are discussed.


Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) commonly develops after the age of 50. AMD is a progressive degenerative disorder of the macula in which central vision becomes impaired and leading cause of blindness. Severe vision loss occurs in the late stages of the disease. Untreated wet-form (neovascular) AMD leads to a rapid loss of vision in the affected eye. Many studies have shown vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a key mediator in wet-form (neovascular) AMD. This review mentions the aflibercept treatment and treatment algorithms in wet-form (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration.


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