Introduction to Age-Related Macular Degeneration

This chapter serves as an introduction to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This is the leading cause of visual loss in the elderly population. The hallmark of AMD is the presence of drusen, which are composed of lipids, proteins, lipofuscin granules, and small RNAs. Currently, there are effective treatments in the form of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitors and laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy for patients with wet AMD, but there is no effective treatment for the dry type of AMD.