[Treatment of age-related macular degeneration: new insights and developments]

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a highly prevalent retinal disease in the elderly with a potential deleterious effect on quality of life. Since the introduction of intra-ocular anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections, wet AMD has become a manageable disease. Unfortunately, not all patients can be managed with existing treatment options. Moreover, frequent injections and control visits place a heavy burden on society and patients. New anti-VEGF are currently being developed which seek to lengthen the time needed between treatments. In addition, home monitoring could dampen costs and lower patient burden. There are hopeful developments underway which seek to slow down the growth rate of geographic atrophy in patients with advanced dry AMD. The increasing number of elderly patients entails that our efforts cannot be solely directed at increasing and optimizing treatment options. A concerted effort must be carried out to limit exposure to modifiable risk factors.