Geographic atrophy (GA), is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), affecting the retina, a part of the eye that sends information to the brain to enable sight.
What happens geographical atrophy?
Geographic atrophy is a chronic progressive degeneration of the macula and can be seen as part of late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The condition leads to central scotomas and permanent loss of visual acuity.
Is geographic atrophy a rare disease?
More than 5 million people worldwide have geographic atrophy, 2 including nearly 1 million people in the U.S. In developed nations, approximately 1 in 29 people over age 75 have geographic atrophy, 3,4,5 which increases to nearly 1 in 4 people over age 90.
What is nascent geographic atrophy?
Nascent geographic atrophy is a term used to describe the ‘subsidence’ of the outer plexiform layer and inner nuclear layer without incomplete loss of the RPE and definite loss of photoreceptors. It can be found in an estimated 7% of eyes with intermediate AMD.
Why is geographic atrophy called?
Interestingly, they also gave an explanation for the term “geographic atrophy” in the introduction of the report: “The atrophic form of macular degeneration has also been called “geographic” because the areas of RPE [retinal pigment epithelium] atrophy tend to form well-defined demarcated borders that do not seem …
Is geographic atrophy bilateral?
Geographic atrophy occurs bilaterally in 48% to 65% of the cases. Sunness and coworkers11 described a high correlation in the size and progression of GA between both eyes. However, further characteristics of bilaterality have not been assessed for advanced atrophic ARMD.
How quickly does geographic atrophy progress?
Usually, once GA starts, the region of atrophy expands slowly over several years until the central vision is lost and vision is about 20/200. It does not normally affect peripheral vision.
What are reticular drusen?
Reticular drusen are yellowish subretinal lesions arranged in a network (i.e. reticular) and are more commonly found at the superotemporal quadrant of the macula.
What is atrophy macula?
Abstract. Atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative disorder of the central retina that greatly increases with age. This complex disease is mainly based on a genetic background but environmental factors are most likely responsible for modulating the individual course of the disorder.
What does geographic atrophy look like on Oct?
Drusen is reabsorbed and geographic atrophy develops that corresponds to decrease in central vision. SD-OCT scans of geographic atrophy, reveals RPE thinning, loss of EPIS and COST lines, depression of the inner retinal layers as the outer layers are loss, and increase visibility of Bruch’s membrane and the choroid.
What is fundus Albipunctatus?
Fundus albipunctatus is an eye disorder characterized by an impaired ability to see in low light (night blindness) and the presence of whitish-yellow flecks in the retina, which is the specialized light-sensitive tissue in the inner lining of the back of the eye (the fundus).
What is fundus autofluorescence imaging (FAF)?
New technology and research has spurred a renewed interest in fundus autofluorescence imaging (FAF) as a diagnostic technique for documenting the presence of fluorophores in the human eye. Fluorophores are chemical structures that possess fluorescent properties when exposed to light of an appropriate wavelength.
What is a window defect in autofluorescent angiography?
Geographic atrophy that appears as a “window defect” in fluorescein angiography will appear dark in autofluorescent imaging. Focal areas of increased FAF are often present in a junctional zone adjacent to existing atrophy prior to progression of atrophy or development of new atrophic areas.
What is autofluorescence imaging of the eye?
Autofluorescence imaging has the potential to provide useful information in conditions where the health of the RPE plays a key role. FAF is effective because it can document metabolic change from the accumulation of toxic fluorophores in the retinal pigment epithelium.
What does fundfundus look like?
Fundus photography showing a well-circumscribed round area of pigment epithelium atrophy, sparing the fovea in right and left eyes. All precursor lesions of this final appearance can also be present: large drusen (>125 microns), focal pigmentation changes and refractile deposit (27,28).
