Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration(AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed countries. Currently, the patient with exudative AMD is increasing in Japan. The pathogenesis of AMD is not fully understood and speculated to relate with aging or western food. Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) was reported to be sufficient to produce AMD. It is also reported that smoking is one of the risk factor of AMD. The prevalence of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Japanese patients is very high. Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin and anti-VEGF therapy are commonly used for treatment of exudative AMD in Japan. The efficacy of therapies related to subtypes of exudative AMD, so accurate diagnosis is needed. The treatment with antioxidants has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD. The efficacy of supplements such as lutein and zeaxanthin to prevent AMD is currently clinical trial in the United States.
