Retinal microenvironment imbalance in dry age-related macular degeneration: a mini-review.

BACKGROUND: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the western world. To prevent what will certainly be a tremendous health and economic burden, effective therapeutics for AMD are urgently needed. To develop these agents in a timely fashion, the molecular pathways that cause disease progression must be elucidated.
OBJECTIVE: To briefly describe the clinical features of AMD, and review the current understanding of the molecular basis of AMD.
METHODS: A literature review.
RESULTS: The discussion will primarily focus on the interplay of oxidative stress and complement dysregulation and the resulting chronic proinflammatory state thought to be central in AMD pathogenesis.
CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress and complement dysregulation play a substantive role in the development of AMD.