title: Genetic factors associated with the development of age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the macula and is the leading cause of significant and irreversible central visual loss. It is the most common cause of visual loss in people aged more than 60 years. This disease affects 2.5 million individuals in Europe. AMD is caused by both environmental and genetic factors. Numerous risk factors have been reported, but the pathogenesis of AMD is complex and fairly understood. Age, female gender, obesity, race, education status, family history, hyperopia, iris color, cigarette smoking, previous cataract surgery, history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, sunlight exposure and many other factors have been shown to be associated with AMD development. Scientific evidence shows that genes may play a role in the development of nearly 3 out of 4 cases of this devastating eye disease. The genes that have been shown to be associated with AMD are genes encoding complement system components such as CFH, C2, C3, CFB, and other.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: Ol4ik.se@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sergejeva
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Botov
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania; Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Neuroscience Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Rasa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liutkevičienė
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Neuroscience Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Loresa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kriaučiūnienė
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Early and late age-related macular degeneration; Genes; Risk factors