Understanding Age-related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries, affecting around 200 million people worldwide. It is a complex, partly heritable and heterogeneous disease that affects the macula, the central retina that is responsible for detailed central vision. The pathogenesis of AMD remains mostly unclear. AMD can be separated into an early and intermediate form, characterized by drusen presence and pigmentary alterations, and two late stages, neovascular AMD and atrophic AMD, also called geographic atrophy (GA). Advanced stages of AMD are associated with severe vision-loss, and can lead to a decline of patient quality-of-life. In order to assure timely treatment and better treatment outcomes, early detection of the disease is pivotal. Using AI tools on high-resolution retinal imaging provides an opportunity for early diagnosis and individualised risk prediction.