Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

What is Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Dry age-related macular degeneration, also known as dry AMD, atrophic macular degeneration, or non-exudative macular degeneration, is the most common age-related macular degeneration.1 Dry AMD is a multifactorial disorder of severe central visual impairment characterized by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration and atrophy, damage and atrophy of photoreceptors, and retinal thinning.2 Dry AMD etiology is not entirely understood but is associated with environmental factors, like cigarette smoking, diet, cholesterol level, and genetic factors, like ABCR, a gene that encodes retinal rod receptor protein and a part of the ABC transporter family linked to the cause of Stargardt disease, another form of macular degeneration.1 Dry AMD predominantly impacts individuals over the age of 65 and is expected to increase given the aging population worldwide.1

 

Signs and Symptoms3

  • Mild blurriness in the central field of vision

  • Difficulty seeing in low lighting

  • Straight lines appear wavy or curved

  • A blurry area in the center of the vision that may become larger over time

  • Appearance of blank spots

  • Colors appear less vivid

 

Treatment for Dry AMD

Currently, there is no cure or approved treatment for dry AMD. The number of people affected worldwide is estimated at nine million, with new patients diagnosed annually.4 The incidence rate is 1 in 130 worldwide.5

With this in mind, research and development for therapies are central to combating this disease. Until an effective therapy is developed and made accessible, chronic treatments, such as REV-0100, will be the only option for disease management.

 
The reVision icon logo, where the lower case letters of R and E are in a circle that from left to right transitions from dark blue to light blue.

reVision Therapeutics Seeks to Treat Dry AMD

At reVision Therapeutics, our primary focus is to bring ophthalmic medicines rapidly to patients with unmet or poorly met disorders.

 

Additional Dry AMD Resources

To learn more about dry AMD, below are additional materials and organizations that provide resources and support:

Disclaimer: These links are provided for your convenience. reVision Therapeutics, Inc. does not endorse the content of external websites. The content of these websites is not under the control, responsibility, or liability of reVision Therapeutics, Inc.

References

1Allikmets R, Shroyer NF, Singh N, et al. Mutation of the stargardt disease gene (abcr) in age-related macular degeneration. Science. 1997;277(5333):1805-1807. doi:10.1126/science.277.5333.1805

2Lin, Wu, Huang, Chow, Hsiao, Cheng. Low-luminance blue light-enhanced phototoxicity in a2e-laden rpe cell cultures and rats. IJMS. 2019;20(7):1799. doi:10.3390/ijms20071799

3Age-Related Macular Degeneration. www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration

4Wong WL, Su X, Li X, et al. Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Global Health. 2014;2(2):e106-e116. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(13)70145-1

5Dry age-related macular degeneration (Amd). Prevent Blindness. Published June 14, 2011. https://preventblindness.org/dry-age-related-macular-degeneration-amd/