Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a major source of legal blindness in individuals older than 50 years. Even though recent reports suggest that genetics plays an important role, its pathogenesis remains puzzling and the risk factors for its occurrence are not completely established. Vitamin and mineral supplementation reduced the risk of development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or progression to the most advanced stages of age-related macular degeneration. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and antiangiogenic therapy have proved to be very useful for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization associated to age-related macular degeneration, by reducing the risk of vision loss and, occasionally, by a temporary improvement of vision. Only a small subset of patients may benefit from other treatment modalities, such as laser photocoagulation, surgical removal of choroidal neovascularization and transpuppillary thermotherapy (TTT). Strategies to control and treat age-related macular degeneration may progress quickly as more is learned about its pathophysiology and the molecular events that contribute to the disease expression.
Macular degeneration; Choroidal neovascularization; Photochemotherapy; Macula lutea; Micronutrients