Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): A View to the Future.

The demonstration of the critical role vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays in ocular neovascularization formed the basis for the development of successful anti-VEGF therapies for the treatment of neovascular AMD and other retinal diseases. We examine anti-VEGF therapy in more depth, including presumed "non-responders" and also inflammatory complications, and discuss the impact these issues have on clinical management and treatment of AMD. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over age 50 worldwide, and the third leading cause of blindness overall. To date, the mechanisms underlying the pathologic processes of AMD remain elusive, and currently there are no treatments for either early or intermediate AMD, nor for the later advanced, atrophic stage of AMD. [Extracted from the article]