Age Related Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world, robbing older individuals of their sight and autonomy. New treatments have transformed lives for patients with “wet” AMD, but benefit just 15% of all patients with late-stage disease. The remaining 85% of patients with AMD have the “dry” form. In fact, early in disease, all patients start with dry AMD.
There is no treatment for dry AMD…
It is presently estimated that 1 in 11 individuals has a diagnosis of AMD by 65 years of age. This rises to 1 in 4 by age 75. AMD accounts for over half of all referrals to the CNIB and is referred to as a “time bomb of vision loss” by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. With an aging population, the need for treatment has never been greater.