Gut microbiota and age-related macular degeneration: A growing partnership

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of severe, irreversible vision impairment in developed countries, and its prevalence is rising all over the world, increasing sharply with age. AMD represents an acquired degeneration of the retina that causes significant central visual impairment through a combination of non-neovascular and neovascular derangement. The main risk factors for the development of advanced AMD are increasing age, genetic factors, and cigarette smoking; however, the exact pathophysiology of AMD is yet relatively poorly understood.
Source: Survey of Ophthalmology - Category: Opthalmology Authors: Source Type: research