This book provides a unique overview of current thinking on the pathogenesis, incidence
and treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It includes, for
the first time, a synthesis of the views of the world’s leading scientists and clinical
practitioners regarding retinal biology and the basic mechanisms, clinical and pathogenetic
processes and rational approaches to the treatment of AMD.
Although the fovea is less than a millimetre in diameter, disorders of the fovea
and its immediately surrounding area (the macula) are responsible for the majority
of cases of untreatable blindness in the developed world. The basis for the vulnerability
of the macula region in these degenerative changes is beginning to emerge.
The fovea has a number of features that distinguish it from other parts of the retina
and reflect its specialization for high visual acuity, principally a high density of photoreceptors
and a lack of retinal vessels. Chapter 1, written by Anita Hendrickson,
provides an overview of the anatomy of the primate macula. The fovea is a characteristic
feature of the primate retina, lies on the temporal side of the optic disc and
regards the central visual field. A sound understanding of macular anatomy is essential
for understanding the impact of AMD on the patient.