BMJ 2003;326:485-488 ( 1 March )

Clinical review

Age related macular degeneration

Amresh Chopdar, consultant ophthalmologist ^a, Usha Chakravarthy, professor, ophthalmology and vision science ^b, Dinesh Verma, associate professor of clinical ophthalmology ^c. 

^a East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5RH, ^b Queen's University and Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, ^c Doheny Retina Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Correspondence to: A Chopdar vision@nearpoint.fsnet.co.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Age related macular degeneration is an increasing problem worldwide. Current treatment options can delay progression, and research continues into ways of reversing retinal damage

An epidemic of "ageing" is impending in the Western world. According to the latest predictions released by the United Nations, the number of people aged over 60 will triple from 606 million worldwide in 2000 to nearly 2 billion by 2050. The increase in the population aged over 80 is expected to be more than fivefold, from 69 million in 2000 to 379 million by 2050. People aged over 60 constitute about 20% of the population in more developed regions of the world; by 2050 they will probably account for 33%.¹ The United Kingdom is predicted to have about 16 million people over the age of 60 by 2040.² One major implication of this demographic change is the emergence of conditions that are directly related to ageing. Age related macular degeneration is already the leading cause of blindness in the . . . [Full text of this article]

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Dietary antioxidants and primary prevention of age related macular degeneration: systematic review and meta-analysis

Elaine W-T Chong, Tien Y Wong, Andreas J Kreis, Julie A Simpson, and Robyn H Guymer
BMJ 2007 335: 755. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Age related macular degeneration: Macular relocation surgery was not taken into account

David Wong, David G Charteris, and Lyndon da Cruz
BMJ 2003 326: 1459. [Extract] [Full Text]

Age related macular degeneration: Smoking entails major risk of blindness

C Simon P Kelly, Richard Edwards, Peter Elton, and Paul Mitchell
BMJ 2003 326: 1458-1459. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Limb, G. A., Daniels, J. T. (2008). Ocular regeneration by stem cells: present status and future prospects. Br Med Bull 85: 47-61 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Chong, E. W-T, Wong, T. Y, Kreis, A. J, Simpson, J. A, Guymer, R. H (2007). Dietary antioxidants and primary prevention of age related macular degeneration: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 335: 755-755 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Punzo, C., Cepko, C. (2007). Cellular Responses to Photoreceptor Death in the rd1 Mouse Model of Retinal Degeneration. IOVS 48: 849-857 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• (2006). Nutritional supplements for macular degeneration. DTB 44: 9-11 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Smeeth, L, Cook, C, Chakravarthy, U, Hubbard, R, Fletcher, A E (2005). A case control study of age related macular degeneration and use of statins. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 89: 1171-1175 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Evans, J R, Fletcher, A E, Wormald, R P L (2005). 28 000 Cases of age related macular degeneration causing visual loss in people aged 75 years and above in the United Kingdom may be attributable to smoking. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 89: 550-553 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Browning, A. C, Amoaku, W. M, Dua, H. S (2004). Treatment of age-related macular degeneration. JRSM 97: 166-169 [Full text]  
• Wong, D., Charteris, D. G, da Cruz, L. (2003). Age related macular degeneration: Macular relocation surgery was not taken into account. BMJ 326: 1459-1459 [Full text]  
• Kelly, C S. P, Edwards, R., Elton, P., Mitchell, P. (2003). Age related macular degeneration: Smoking entails major risk of blindness. BMJ 326: 1458-1459 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Surgery for age related macular degeneration

David G. Charteris, et al.
bmj.com, 25 Mar 2003 [Full text]

Smoking and risk of Age Related Maculopathy.

Simon P Kelly, et al.
bmj.com, 1 Apr 2003 [Full text]

Re: Surgery for age related macular degeneration

Amresh Chopdar, et al.
bmj.com, 2 Apr 2003 [Full text]

Re: Smoking and risk of Age Related Maculopathy.

Amresh Chopdar, et al.
bmj.com, 2 Apr 2003 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more >>