Innovative Technologies Offer New Hope for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic retinal disease and the leading cause of blindness in people over 60 in developed countries, accounting for 7% of global blindness. It presents in two main forms: wet (neovascular) and dry (atrophic), with the dry form being more common, affecting approximately 80-85% of cases. Despite its prevalence, effective treatments for dry AMD are severely limited, unlike for the wet form, which has established therapies. This review addresses the critical knowledge gap regarding modern therapeutic perspectives and future innovative technologies for treating dry AMD.

The review highlights the significant burden of dry AMD, which constitutes 80-85% of all AMD cases, yet remains largely untreatable. In contrast, the less common wet form (affecting 15-20% of cases) has established therapies that target new blood vessel growth. > The most important finding is the identification of several promising novel therapeutic avenues, including gene therapies, stem cell-based treatments, and neuroprotective agents, which are currently in various stages of development. These innovative approaches aim to address the underlying pathogenesis of dry AMD, offering hope for future interventions. The review suggests these emerging technologies could provide a significant improvement over the current lack of specific treatments, potentially slowing disease progression and preserving vision.