Understanding age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Understanding age-related macular degeneration Tunde Peto, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Queen’s University Belfast, describes the symptoms, causes and treatments for age-related macular degeneration and how the prevalence of the disease could be reduced. Imagine living your life without being able to see the face of your loved ones, being able to read your phone, book a show, rebook a cancelled flight, or read the labels in the supermarket. Such tasks we do without giving these much thought until suddenly, one day, we realise that we cannot do them. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to the loss of central vision, causing sight loss or even legal blindness. This disease is the most common cause of blindness in those over 65, (1) and while it is genetically driven in most cases, not everyone will get the disease, even if they are at risk. Its effect can be devastating, especially for those with multiple comorbidities, who have no immediate social support and for whom reading, writing, or watching television or the birds might have been the major contributor to maintaining good mental health.(2)