Age-related macular degeneration: An introduction image

November/December 2023 Supplement | Modern Management of Dry AMD & Geographic Atrophy

Age-related macular degeneration: An introduction

Anat Loewenstein, Frank Holz, Patricia Udaondo, Adnan Tufail, Stela Vujosevic, and Peter Kaiser

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive retinal disease and a leading cause of blindness in the population > 50 years of age in developed countries.¹

AMD is classified into early, intermediate, and late-stage disease. Late-stage encompasses neovascular AMD (nAMD) and atrophic AMD (geographic atrophy). In nAMD, macular neovascularization (MNV) develops in the macula. While nAMD only represents about 10% of the entire AMD population, it accounts for the majority of vision loss. Effective treatment options are available for the management of nAMD.

Late-stage dry AMD manifests as GA, a progressive and irreversible atrophy of the outer retina, that becomes vision-threatening as lesions encroach towards the fovea. Until recently, there have been no efficacious treatment options to slow or prevent the progression of dry AMD or GA.

1. Desai D, Dugel PU. Complement cascade inhibition in geographic atrophy: a review. Eye (Lond). Feb 2022;36(2):294-302. doi:10.1038/s41433-021-01765-x

Anat Loewenstein

Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre (TASMC), Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice Dean, Tel Aviv University, Israel
anatl@tlvmc.gov.il
Author financial disclosures: Abbvie, Bayer, Beyeonics, Notalvision, Novartis, Roche, Syneos, Ripple, Iveric Bio, J&J, Ocuphire, Iqvia.

Frank Holz

Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Bonn University, Germany
Frank.Holz@ukbonn.de
Author financial disclosures: F.G. Holz reports research grants and consulting fees from Acucela, Allergan, Apellis, Bayer, Bioeq/Formycon, Roche/Genentech, Geuder, Heidelberg Engineering, Iveric Bio, Pixium Vision, Novartis, Zeiss; consulting fees from Alexion, Alzheon, Annexon, Astellas, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Grayburg Vision, Janssen, LinBioscience, Stealth BioTherapeutics, Aerie, Oxurion.

Patricia Udaondo

Faculty member, Department of Ophthalmology, New University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Co-founder and Medical Director of the Aiken Clinic in Valencia
draudaondo@gmail.com
Author financial disclosures: Alimera, Abbvie, Apellis, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Boehringer, Brill, Janssen, Ocular Therapeutics, Ocuterra, Outlook Therapeutics, Oxular, Novartis, Roche.

Adnan Tufail

Consultant Ophthalmologist Moorfields Eye Hospital & Professor of Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, UCL, London, UK
adnan.tufail@nhs.net
Author financial disclosures: Alexion, Allergan, Annexon, Apellis, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Eyepoint, 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Genentech/Roche, Grayburg Vision, Heidelberg Engineering, Iveric Bio, Janssen, Nanoscope Therapeutics, Novartis, Opthea, Oxurion, Samsung Bio.

Stela Vujosevic

Head of Medical Retina Unit, IRCCS MultiMedica, University of Milan, Italy
stela.vujosevic@unimi.it
Author financial disclosures: Abbvie, Apellis, Bayer, Novartis, Roche, Zeiss.

Peter Kaiser

Chair in Ophthalmology Research and Professor of Ophthalmology, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
pkkaiser@gmail.com
Author financial disclosures: Alcon, Allegro, Abbvie/Allergan, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Alzheon, Annexon Biosciences, AsclepiX, Aviceda, Bayer, Bausch and Lomb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Clearside Biomedical, Coherus, Complement Therapeutics, Galimedix, Genentech/Roche, Innovent, Iveric Bio, Kanghong, Kriya Therapeutics, Nanoscope Therapeutics, Novartis, Ocular Therapeutix, OcuTerra Therapeutics, Regeneron, RegenxBio, Stealth Biotherapeutics, Théa, Unity Biotechnology, VisgenX, 4D Molecular Therapeutics.

Next Article in this Supplement

Risk factors and demographics of AMD and geographic atrophy