Description
Loss of central vision secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) represents the leading cause of legal blindness in the developed world. Although the pathogenesis of AMD remains obscure, morphological changes involving the photoreceptor layer, Bruchs membrane, the retinal pigment epithelium and the choriocapillaris have been consistently demonstrated. Currently, four mechanisms, either alone or in combination, are suspected of playing an aetiological role in AMD, and these include genetic predisposition, oxidative stress, thickening of Bruchs membrane and reduced foveolar choroidal circulation. A greater understanding of the pathophysiology of AMD is required if effective preventive measures are to be developed.
