Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people over age 60. In advanced stages, it can cause permanent vision loss.
Half of those impacted by macular degeneration may not even know it because there are often no noticeable symptoms in early stages.
Macular Degeneration Research, a program of BrightFocus Foundation, funds the most promising science and provides expert information on this devastating disease.
Together, we will find a cure.
What is macular degeneration, what forms can it take, and how does it affect your eyes? Dr. Gayatri Reilly, a retina specialist and vitreoretinal surgeon at Retina Group of Washington, answered these questions and more in a BrightFocus Chat.
BrightFocus Chats are a free, monthly audio series featuring vision experts. Register for the next Chat on Patient Voices: Living with Age-Related Macular Degeneration, and explore previous BrightFocus Chats about macular degeneration.
Geographic atrophy is an advanced and severe form of dry macular degeneration that causes around 20% of legal blindness in North America. If you have already been diagnosed with dry macular degeneration, ask your doctor how often you need to be monitored for potential progression to geographic atrophy. The first treatment for geographic atrophy was approved in February 2023; there are several other promising treatments in clinical trials. BrightFocus is funding innovative research into new drugs and ways to manage and treat this complex form of AMD.
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BrightFocus Foundation is driving innovative research around the world to end macular degeneration. Our Macular Degeneration Research program takes a multi-pronged approach by funding bold research with the most promise of finding a cure.
