Association of lipids with age-related macular degeneration.

In the past decades, much investigation has been done on the role of lipids in the development and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The lipids involved in those research studies had included PUFAs, phospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol, lipid protein, etc. There are a large number of clinical research studies on the association of PUFAs with the development and progression of AMD. The relationship between cholesterol level and AMD has been explored for decades and much data and analysis results have been obtained. As for phospholipids, sphingolipids, and lipid proteins, progress towards understanding their role in AMD has been achieved mainly at the laboratory level. The goal of this paper is to review the most recent published findings according to different lipid types and discuss the roles various lipids might play in AMD pathogenesis and their implications in future preventive measures and treatments.