Age Related Macular Degeneration

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Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 50. Every ten years after the age of 50 the prevalence of this disease increases exponentially. Many different factors contribute to the development of AMD including genetic, environment, and metabolic functions. Aside from smoking, abnormal blood pressure, and an unhealthy diet low in fruits and vegetables, many more studies are concluding that similar inflammatory and oxidative processes seen in other age related diseases are also playing a key role in the development of AMD. This disease affects the central areas of the retina and choroid. In return central vision is impaired while peripheral vision is usually not lost. AMD is seen in two different forms, the earlier nonneovascular (dry) type and the more advanced neovascular (wet) type. Each form has its own specific pathology and unique characteristics that set them apart. Fatty, protein deposits called drusens may be the key risk factor in understanding dry AMD pathology, progression, and treatment. Once the more advanced wet AMD is diagnosed, pathology and treatment are targeted around the formation and destruction of abnormal blood vessels, characteristic of the wet AMD eye. The increasing prevalence of AMD has influenced more investigation into what factors can be modulated to prevent the onset or to stop the progression of AMD. Early diagnosis is very important because this is when an eye doctor can spot the early signs of the disease through ultrasound or angiography. This text will discuss the pathology of drusens and the role of inflammation and oxidation in the aged eye. By better understanding these processes more effective treatment approaches and preventive...

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...hew, Shane. "Age Related Macular Degeneration." Kerala Journal of Ophthamology: n. pag. Web.

13. Moore, Kathryn J., and Ira Tabas. "Macrophages in the Pathogenesis of

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Atherosclerosis." Cell 145.3 (2011): 341-355. Print.

14. Nicolosi, R. J. "Consumption of 2 and 4 egg yolks/d for 5 wk increases macular pigment concentrations in older adults with low macular pigment taking cholesterol-lowering statins." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 90: 1272-1279. Web. 1 May 2014.

15. Sepici-Dincel, Aylin. "Choroidal Neovascular Membrane in Age-Related Macular Degeneration is Associated with Increased Interleukin-6." International Journal of Gerontology: 101-104. Web. 1 May 2014.

16. Wang, Yadong. "An Anti-angiogenic Reverse Thermal Gel as a Drug-Delivery System for Age-Related Wet Macular Degeneration." Macromolecular Bioscience: 464-469. Web. 1 May 2014.

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