Age-Related Macular Degeneration Disease Summary

Overview

Macular degeneration is a chronic, progressive degenerative disease that occurs in the pigment, neural, and vascular layers of the macula that causes central vision loss as defined in the Introduction section.

As stated in the Epidemiology section, macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss, especially in the elderly. This section mentions the global estimates and prevalence of age-related macular degeneration.

The Pathophysiology section enumerates the effects in the eye of macular degeneration. While, the Risk Factors section enumerates the different factors that predispose the patient to have age-related macular degeneration.

Classification of age-related macular degeneration by age-related eye disease study (AREDS) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration classification by angiographic patterns of fluorescence are identified and explained in the Classification section.

History and Physical Examination

Decreased vision loss and distortion of seeing straight lines (metamorphopsia) are the most common symptoms of age-related macular degeneration. Early and late stage manifestations of age-related macular degeneration are enumerated in the Clinical Presentation section.

Pertinent information that may predispose the patient to have macular degeneration is listed in the History section.

In the Physical Examination section, ocular evaluation results that may occur in patients with macular degeneration are discussed.

Diagnosis

The Imaging section discusses the different imaging studies to be done to confirm the diagnosis of macular degeneration.

Ophthalmological diseases that present similar symptoms to age-related macular degeneration that should be ruled out are in the Differential Diagnosis section.

Management

Treatment goals and options in the management of patients with age-related macular degeneration are discussed in the Principles of Therapy section.

Details about treatments of age-related macular degeneration like intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial (VEGF) injection therapy, complement pathway inhibitors, vitamin and mineral supplements and photodynamic therapy with Verteporfin are in the Pharmacological Therapy section.

Observation treatment option, patient education and rehabilitation are discussed in detail in the Nonpharmacological section.

Laser photocoagulation which is indicated in patients with extrafoveal classic choroidal neovascularization and as treatment option in patients with juxtapapillary choroidal neovascularization are discussed in the section of Surgery.

The frequency of follow-up depends on the type of AMD and the risk of progression. Follow-up at regular intervals is recommended for early detection of asymptomatic and treatable choroidal neovascularization lesions. These are discussed in the Monitoring section together with the schedule of follow-ups of the different types of age-related macular degeneration.