Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in individuals older than 65 years of age. The authors of this book discuss the role of genetics, sunlight, diet, cardiovascular factors, smoking and alcohol as possible risk factors for AMD. Furthermore, the dry form is more common and accounts for about 85-90% of AMD patients in the USA, while Japanese AMD patients predominantely progress to wet-form or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). The function of a serine protein gene, HTRA1, in wet-form AMD patients is explored in detail. Conversely, the final chapter evaluates the therapeutic effects of high omega-3 fatty acids as anti-inflammatory agents in dry AMD patients. The preliminary findings indicate a promising therapeutic regime for dry AMD and perhaps for other retinopathies as well.