Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most important cause of irreversible legal blindness in elderly persons in industrialized countries. AMD has two forms: atrophic (dry) and exudative (wet). In the wet form, abnormal blood vessels, arising from the choriocapillaris (choroidal neovascularization, CNV) underneath the macula, grow through ruptures in the Bruch’s membrane, into the sub-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) space or into the subretinal space, or a combination of both. Blood and serum leakage from the CNV below the RPE and/or below and within the retina are harmful and fi nally causes irreversible damage to the photoreceptors of the overlying macula which results in a central scotoma.
Original language | English |
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Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
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Place of Publication | Rotterdam |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |