Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009:3:155-66.
doi: 10.2147/opth.s2094. Epub 2009 Jun 2.

Age-related macular degeneration: current treatments

Jean Pierre Hubschman  1 , Shantan Reddy, Steven D Schwartz
Affiliations

Age-related macular degeneration: current treatments

Jean Pierre Hubschman et al. Clin Ophthalmol. 2009.

Abstract

Purpose: Although important progress has been made in understanding age-related macular degeneration (AMD), management of the disease continues to be a challenge. AMD research has led to a widening of available treatment options and improved prognostic perspectives. This essay reviews these treatment options.

Design: Interpretative essay.

Methods: Literature review and interpretation.

Results: Current treatments to preserve vision in patients with non-exudative AMD include antioxidant vitamins and mineral supplementations. Exudative AMD is currently most often treated monthly with anti-VEGF intravitreal injections. However, investigators are beginning to experiment with combination therapy and surgical approaches in an attempt to limit the number of treatment and reduce the financial burden on the health care system.

Conclusion: By better understanding the basis and pathogenesis of AMD, newer therapies will continue to be developed that target specific pathways in patients with AMD, with the hoped for outcome of better management of the disease and improved visual acuity.

Keywords: VEGF; age-related macular degeneration; laser; photodynamic therapy; surgery.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Kahn HA, Leibowitz HM, Ganley JP, et al. The Framingham Eye Study. I. Outline and major prevalence findings. Am J Epidemiol. 1977;106(1):17–32. - PubMed
    1. Klein BE, Linton KL. Prevalence of age-related maculopathy. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 1992;99(6):933–43. - PubMed
    1. Klein BE, Klein R. Cataracts and macular degeneration in older Americans. Arch Ophthalmol. 1982;100(4):571–3. - PubMed
    1. Mitchell P, Smith W, Attebo K, Wang JJ. Prevalence of age-related maculopathy in Australia The Blue Mountains Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 1995;102(10):1450–60. - PubMed
    1. Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial Study Group The Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial (CAPT):rationale, design and methodology. Clin Trials. 2004;1:91–107. - PubMed