Geographic Atrophy: Clinical Impact and Emerging Treatments

Geographic atrophy remains an important cause of permanent vision loss despite historic progress made in managing vitreoretinal diseases over the past decade. Fortunately, our understanding of age-related macular degeneration pathophysiology has reached a level that has allowed us to embark on several clinical trials to discover treatments to manage this difficult disease. Availability of animal models and advances in imaging (OCT and autofluorescence) have aided in the possibility of upcoming breakthrough treatments for GA.

Drs. Patel and Eichenbaum discuss a wide variety of treatment approaches, including neuroprotection, LDL-lowering agents, antibodies binding amyloid, anti-inflammatories, visual cycle modulators, and stem cell transplantation. Although many of these approaches are in the early stage, the community is encouraged by the progress of the Genentech lampalizumab development program entering phase 3 this year.

I am certain that the insights and review of this complex topic provided by Drs. Patel and Eichenbaum will be valued by the community.

Click here to read the full article published in Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging Retina, January 2015.