The Impact of Neovascular AMD

More than 1.6 million patients in the United States have neovascular (wet) AMD, with 200,000 cases diagnosed each year.¹ The risk increases with age; therefore, the incidence is expected to dramatically increase with aging baby boomers.

Neovascular AMD Can Rapidly Lead to Impaired Visual Function

• This chronic and progressive disease is the most common cause of irreversible and severe vision loss among people aged >60 years^2-6
  • Without treatment, many patients experience severe vision loss within months to 2 years⁷
• Can severely compromise patients' ability to function independently
  • Loss of central vision can rapidly impair activities such as reading, driving a car, meal preparation, and housework^8,9
  • Impairments in visual function are associated with a higher risk of falls¹⁰
  • Clinical depression was reported in up to one third of patients¹¹

Visual Function Relates to Daily Activities

• Although macular degeneration treatment options exist, their impact on quality-of-life end points has not been established

References:

1. National Eye Institute. Vision problems in the U.S.: prevalence of adult vision impairment and age-related eye disease in America. Available at: http://www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata/pdf/vVPUS.pdf. Accessed June 25, 2004
2. Ambati J, Ambati BK, Yoo SH, Ianchulev S, Adamis AP. Age-related macular degeneration: etiology, pathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies. Surv Ophthalmol. 2003;48:257-293.
3. Zarbin MA. Current concepts in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122:598-614.
4. Klein R, Wang Q, Klein BEK, Moss SE, Meuer SM. The relationship of age-related maculopathy, cataract, and glaucoma to visual acuity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995;36:182-191.
5. Bressler NM, Bressler SB, Fine SL. Age-related macular degeneration. Surv Ophthalmol. 1988;32:375-413.
6. Leibowitz HM, Krueger DE, Maunder LR, et al. The Framingham Eye Study monograph: an ophthalmological and epidemiological study of cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and visual acuity in a general population of 2631 adults, 1973-1975. Surv Ophthalmol. 1980;24(suppl):458-471.
7. Macular Photocoagulation Study Group. Laser photocoagulation of subfoveal neovascular lesions in age-related macular degeneration: results of a randomized clinical trial. Arch Ophthalmol. 1991;109:1220-1231.
8. National Eye Institute. Age-related macular degeneration: what you should know. Available at: http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.htm. Accessed June 7, 2004.
9. Park W. Vision rehabilitation for age-related macular degeneration. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 1999;39:143-162.
10. Ramrattan RS, Wolfs RCW, Panda-Jonas S, et al. Prevalence and causes of visual field loss in the elderly and associations with impairment in daily functioning: The Rotterdam Study. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119:1788-1794.
11. Brody BL, Gamst AC, Williams RA, et al. Depression, visual acuity, comorbidity, and disability associated with age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology. 2001;108:1893-1901.
12. Rosenthal BP, Fletcher DC, Rubin GS, Schuchard RA, Scott IU. Seeing the Whole Picture: Visual Function and Age-Related Macular Degeneration. New York, NY: Lighthouse International; 2003.