In the United States, more than 9 million people older than age 40 have age-related macular degeneration (AMD). By the year 2030, an estimated 20 million Americans will have been diagnosed with this disease that destroys one’s sharp, central vision that is needed to see objects clearly and perform tasks such as reading and driving.
A leading cause of blindness in Americans ages 60 and older, AMD has become more prominent in recent decades due to Americans living longer. While there is no cure for AMD, there is hope for those who suffer from this disease.
“The (VRC) at the (UMKC) is pioneering new treatments for AMD through basic and clinical research," said Nelson Sabates, MD, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Director of the Vision Research Center at the . "Outcomes from recent clinical studies show that zinc and antioxidants play a key role in slowing the progression of AMD, and that conventional laser and photodynamic therapy can reduce the risk of vision loss in patients with certain forms of macular degeneration."
Reviewed 2016-06-24