Age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is a progressive disease of the macula, the central part of the retina, that can impair detailed central vision.

Drusen: Drusen are extracellular deposits that accumulate beneath the retinal pigment epithelium. These deposits are a characteristic early finding and can accompany disease progression.
Optical coherence tomography: Optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique that produces cross-sectional views of retinal tissue. It reveals fluid, drusen, and tissue loss that guide diagnosis and follow-up.
Ageing: Ageing is the progressive biological change that occurs over an organism’s lifespan. Increasing age is the strongest risk factor for this retinal disease.
Dry macular degeneration: Dry macular degeneration is the non-neovascular form, marked by drusen and progressive retinal tissue loss. It contrasts with the form driven by abnormal, leaky blood vessels.
Geographic atrophy: Geographic atrophy is a slowly enlarging area of retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor loss. It is the advanced atrophic form, causing permanent gaps in central vision.
Fundus photography: Fundus photography records images of the retina and optic nerve at the back of the eye. Retinal photographs document drusen and pigment changes over time.
Complement factor H: Complement factor H is a blood protein that regulates activation of the alternative complement pathway. Variants in its gene are among the strongest inherited risk factors.
Wet macular degeneration: Wet macular degeneration is the neovascular form, in which abnormal vessels grow beneath or into the retina. It can cause faster vision loss and is commonly treated with anti-VEGF injections.
Choroidal neovascularization: Choroidal neovascularization is abnormal growth of blood vessels from the choroid into or beneath the retina. Leaky new vessels drive the exudative form and can damage central vision rapidly.
Fluorescein angiography: Fluorescein angiography images retinal blood flow after injection of a fluorescent dye. It can identify leakage from abnormal vessels in suspected neovascular disease.

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