Overview of clinical trials for dry age-related macular degeneration

• Main Authors: Wen-Sheng Cheng, Da-Wen Lu, Chiao-Hsi Chiang, Charn-Jung Chang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Age-related macular degeneration; retinal pigment epithelium; photoreceptors; age-related eye disease study; choroidal perfusion enhancers
• Online Access: http://www.jmedscindmc.com/article.asp?issn=1011-4564;year=2017;volume=37;issue=4;spage=121;epage=129;aulast=Cheng

The overall goal of treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is to target the underlying cause of the disease and prevent, or at least slow down, the loss of vision, which requires the preservation of the choroid, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and photoreceptors. At present, there is no proven drug treatment for dry AMD; however, the cessation of smoking and treatments based on the age-related eye diseases study vitamin formula combined with a healthy diet are considered the only options for slowing disease progression. A number of pharmaceutical agents are currently under evaluation for the treatment of dry AMD using strategies such as reduction RPE and photoreceptor loss, neuroprotection, visual cycle modulators, suppression of inflammation, prevention of oxidative damage, and choroidal perfusion enhancers. The hope is that some of these therapies will achieve significant improvement to current management and prevent future loss of vision in this devastating eye condition.