Asian age-related macular degeneration: from basic science research perspective

Abstract

In Asian populations, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), a distinct phenotype of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is more prevalent than Caucasians. Recently, there has been significant focus on how PCV differs from typical AMD. Although typical AMD and PCV share a variety of mechanisms by which abnormal angiogenic process occurs at the retinochoroidal interface, PCV has different clinical characteristics such as aneurysm-like dilation at the terminal of choroidal neovascular membranes, less frequent drusen and inner choroidal degeneration due to the thickened choroid. Recent studies support an important role for inflammation, angiogenesis molecules and lipid metabolism in the pathogenesis of neovascular AMD. Furthermore, although less attention has been paid to the role of the choroid in AMD, accumulating evidence suggests that the choriocapillaris and choroid also play a pivotal role in drusenogenesis, typical AMD and PCV. This review discusses the basic pathogenic mechanisms of AMD and explores the difference between typical AMD and PCV.

Dietary Saturated Fatty Acid Intake and Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Japanese Population

“…Further studies are needed to examine SFA in pooled studies with broader ranges in intake to understand the association. Because lipid metabolism can efficiently create energy through fatty acid β-oxidation in the retina, 43 , 44 the maintenance of retinal homeostasis and prevention of AMD may require adequate fatty acid intake. Although joint effects on AMD by fatty acid intake and patient genotype has been suggested, 18 – 21 there were no interactions between SFA intake and genotype in the current study.…”

Effects of cataract surgery in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

“…This was presumably because vision was better at baseline in eyes with PCV than in eyes with typical AMD. It has been well-known that patients with PCV are relatively younger and have better visual prognosis than typical AMD, and cataract surgery might prove more beneficial in PCV patients in terms of the better vision over the course of their lives [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Molecular Mechanisms of Druze Formation in the Retina in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

“…Традиционно ВМД представляют как мультифакториальное хроническое заболевание (проявляющееся нарушением метаболизма липидов, структуры и функции пигментного эпителия, развитием воспаления в сетчатке и неоваскулогенезом) [14]. Ключевым механизмом патогенеза сухой формы ВМД считается накопление липопротеинов и появление друз в мембране Бруха [15].…”