BMJ  2006;333:869-870 (28 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.39009.366736.80

Editorial

Age related macular degeneration

Better tools are needed to measure quality of life and visual outcomes

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

Wet (also known as neovascular or exudative) age related macular degeneration is a common condition of poorly understood aetiology that affects around two million elderly people in Europe.¹ In the United Kingdom, in about a quarter of a million people wet macular degeneration causes bilateral visual impairment of sufficient severity that they are registered as partially sighted or blind.² If only one eye is affected the onset of disease may go unnoticed by the patient. Wet macular degeneration is usually bilateral though, and when the second eye becomes affected the impact on the patient is devastating.³

Good vision is often taken for granted. It is an important prerequisite for a socially fulfilling and active lifestyle. Wet macular degeneration affecting both eyes has serious consequences for quality of life. The psychosocial and functional impact of sight loss due to this condition is reviewed in a paper by Mitchell and Bradley . . . [Full text of this article]

Centre for Vision Science, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BA
(u.chakravarthy@qub.ac.uk)

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Relevant Article

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]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• 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]  

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