Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible central vision loss in people over 55 years, driven by age-related changes in the retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch’s membrane, and choriocapillaris that impair waste clearance and promote drusen formation. Drusen contain lipids, complement components, and cellular debris, triggering oxidative stress and chronic inflammation that can progress to geographic atrophy (GA) or neovascular AMD. Major risks include increasing age, White ethnicity, cigarette smoking, obesity, low physical activity, and susceptibility variants in CFH (Complement Factor H) and ARMS2/HTRA1 (Age-Related Maculopathy Susceptibility 2/ High- Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 1), while antioxidant-rich diets may be protective. The diagnosis relies on dilated fundus examination supported by optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and angiography for staging and monitoring. Management emphasizes lifestyle modification and age-related eye disease study 2 supplementation for intermediate disease. Recently approved complement inhibitors – pegcetacoplan and avacincaptad pegol – slow GA enlargement, and multiwavelength photobiomodulation (Valeda) shows modest functional benefit and reduced new GA. Ongoing research aims for combination strategies to better arrest progression and preserve independence.
Priya et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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