Current treatment of age-related macular degeneration

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss in people over 65 years of age. Its origin is multifactorial, involving aging as well as various genetic and environmental factors such as smoking, obesity and diet. It mainly affects the outer retina (retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors) in the macular area. It is classified into “non-neovascular” and “neovascular”. The “non-neovascular” form is characterized by the presence of soft drusen, which can evolve towards progressive macular atrophy and a gradual loss of visual acuity. In the “neovascular” form, abnormal blood vessels develop, usually growing from the choroid, into the subretinal or subepithelial pigment space with exudation of fluid and blood with sudden loss of vision. This leads to fibrosis and irreversible damage to the outer retina. This article analyzes the classification and current state of treatment of age-related macular degeneration.