Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of sight loss in the UK, affecting more than 600,000 people, according to the Macular Society, a UK vision-loss charity.
The ability to control AMD and other causes of blindness, such as diabetic retinopathy, has improved hugely over the years. While fundamental research and new drug therapies are crucial, emerging techniques that scan and assess the eye also play an important role. (Furthermore, eye scans can be used to diagnose other conditions, such as ADHD and heart disease.)
Despite these advances, not all sight conditions can be treated. For instance, there are two forms of AMD, called ‘wet’ and ‘dry’. Wet AMD, caused by the growth of extra blood vessels, can be controlled by drug injections into the eye. Dry AMD – caused by the loss of nerve cells – cannot be treated.
“Right now, there’s nothing we can offer for late-stage dry AMD other than visual aids,” says Konstantinos Balaskas...