title: Age-related macular degeneration: a practical approach to a challenging disease.
abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in older North Americans. The clinical spectrum, risk factors, pathophysiology, and potential therapeutic options for AMD warrant a careful review. Despite the growth in treatment options for this disease, there is no current curative therapy. Of critical importance is attention to modifiable risk factors--improvements in cardiovascular status, including smoking cessation, and routine ophthalmic monitoring for opportunities to provide early intervention. In addition, a low-vision assessment to investigate the potential use of visual assistive devices may be beneficial to any patient who has experienced a decrease in vision. Finally, education regarding the clinical course of age-related macular degeneration and accurate information with respect to the known benefits of available treatments will impart a better understanding of this disease to patients.
authors.affiliation: Jules Stein Eye Institute, Retina Division, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Dan H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bourla
authors.forename: Tara A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008028:Light Coagulation; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A