No efficacious treatment for age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to explain that many trials have been done unsuccessfully to improve age-related macular degeneration.


METHODS
Different trials that have been done to improve this degeneration and that have been published in a peer reviewed journal are discussed.


RESULTS
There is not yet a preventive therapy that has a significant impact on blindness due to age-related maculopathy. There is no therapy for geographic atrophy. There are limited forms of therapy with the objective of destroying new vessels arising in the choroid and of limiting the visual loss.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for more efforts to find ways that influence the survival of the complex photoreceptor--retinal pigment epithelium--Bruch's membrane in the aging population.
Roodhooft
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Jozef, Turnhout, Belgium.
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000628:therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012160:Retina / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D000975:Antioxidants; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D016023:Integrins; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D013792:Thalidomide