State-of-the art pharmacotherapy for non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Introduction: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness among the elderly in the industrialized world. While effective treatment is available for neovascular AMD, no therapy is successful for the non-neovascular form. Herein, the authors report the current knowledge on non-neovascular AMD pathogenesis and the promising research on treatments. Areas covered: In the present review, the authors summarize the most recent advances in the treatment of non-neovascular AMD and provide an update on current treatment strategies. Evidence available from preclinical and clinical studies and from a selective literature search is reported. Expert opinion: When investigating AMD, numerous pathological cascades and alterations of physiological processes have been investigated. It is well-known that AMD is a multifactorial disease, with environmental causes and genetics playing a role. Perturbations in multiple pathogenic pathways have been identified and this led to the development of several molecules directed at specific therapeutic targets. However, despite the huge research effort, the only proven approach so far is oral antioxidant supplementation. We believe that, in addition to successful advancement of promising drugs, further research should be directed at tailoring therapy to specific patient groups, eventually employing a combinational therapy strategy.