About Macular Degeneration: Treatment - Risk Factors - Symptoms - News - Research - Resources

<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" topmargin="0"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="Description" content="Funds scientific research on macular degeneration and educates the public about this disease"> <meta name="keywords" content= "macular degeneration, macular, age related macular degeneration, treatment, avastin, lucentis, photodynamic therapy, wet, dry, eye, animation, medical, illustration, anatomy,eye, aqueous humor, treatment, blind, ocular, foundation, public education, Real Life Questions, research, updates, news, updates, retina, retinal, information, support, blindness, anatomy eye, grants, resources, sight macugen photodynamic therapy lutein zeaxanthin vitamins"> <p align="center"><img src="MDaboutcropped.jpg" width="441" height="135" alt="About Macular Degeneration"> <p align="center"><font size="5"><b><font size="7">Macular Degeneration Research</font></b></font> <p>Macular Degeneration Research (MDR), a program of the American Health Assistance Foundation, was established in 1997 to fund research on and educate the public about macular degeneration. Since program's inception, MDR has awarded over $7.7 million to support basic research into the causes and potential treatments of this disease. <p> Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease that causes deterioration of the macula, the central area of the retina, the paper-thin tissue at the back of the eye where light-sensitive cells send visual signals to the brain. Sharp, clear, “straight ahead” vision is processed by the macula. Damage to the macula results in the development of blind spots and blurred or distorted vision. When the macula becomes damaged, many daily activities such as driving and reading become increasingly difficult. AMD usually affects individuals older than 50 years of age, and scientific evidence shows that genes may play a role in the development of nearly three out of four cases of this devastating eye disease. <p>AMD is a major cause of visual impairment in the United States. Approximately 1.8 million Americans age 40 and older have advanced AMD, and another 7.3 million people with intermediate AMD are at substantial risk for vision loss. The government estimates that by 2020 there will be 2.9 million people with advanced AMD. <p align="center"> <p align="left">The 'About Macular Degeneration' section has a wealth of information including the following: <ul> <li>Statistical information on macular degeneration </li> <li><a href="marisk.htm" target="_top">Macular degeneration risk factors </a></li> <li><a href="masymp.htm" target="_top">The symptoms of macular degeneration</a> </li> <li><a href="mahealth.htm" target="_top">Healthy choices one can make concerning the disease </a></li> <li><a href="mafaq.htm" target="_top"> Frequently asked questions about macular degeneration</a></li> <li><a href="mawhtnew_home_page.htm" target="_top">Medical News Updates </a></li> <li><a href="matreatment.htm" target="_top">Treatment</a></li> </ul> <p align="left" class="style2">Approved Treatments </p> <ul> <li><a href="Angiogenesis_Inhibitors.html">Angiogenesis Inhibitors</a></li> <br> <br> <li><a href="Laser_Photocoagulation.html">Laser Photocoagulation</a></li> <br> <br> <li><a href="PhotodynamicTherapy.html">Photodynamic therapy</a></li> <br> <br> <li><a href="Vitamin_Mineral_Supplements.html">Vitamin and Mineral Supplements</a></li> </ul> <p align="left" class="style2"> </p> <p align="left" class="style2">Ongoing Clinical Trials</p> <ul> <li><a href="Bevasiranib.html">Bevasiranib</a></li> <br> <br> <li><a href="Cortical_Implants.html">Cortical Implants </a></li> <br> <br> <li><a href="Minature_Telescope.html">Implantable Miniature Telescope</a></li> <br> <br> <li><a href="Macular_Retinal_Translocation.html">Macular and Retinal Translocation </a></li> <br> <br> <li> <a href="Radiation_Therapy.html">Radiation Therapy </a></li> <br> <br> <li><a href="Retaane.html">Retaane</a></li> <br> <br> <li> <a href="Retinal_Chips.html">Retinal Chips</a></li> <br> <br> <li> <a href="Rheopheresis.html">Rheopheresis</a> </li> <br> <br> <li><a href="ClinicalTrials.html">Search for Clinical Trials </a></li> <br> <br> <li><a href="Submacular_Surgery.html">Submacular Surgery</a><br> <br> <br> </li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="ma_RealLifeQuestions.htm" target="_top"> Real Life Questions: research and science questions concerning macular degeneration</a></li> <li><a href="MacularDegeneration_TellUsYourStory.html" target="_top">Tell Us Your Story</a> </li> <li>Fact Sheets <br> <ol> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/Diet and Macular.pdf" target="_new">Diet And Macular Degeneration </a><br> <br> </li> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/MacularClinicalTrialInfo.pdf" target="_new">Clinical Trial Information</a> <br> <br> </li> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/CommunityResources_Macular.pdf" target="_new">Community Resources</a><br> <br> </li> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/FinancialAssistance_Macular.pdf" target="_new">Financial Aid </a><br> <br> </li> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/FormsOfMacularDegeneration.pdf" target="_new">Forms of Macular Degeneration</a> <br> <br> </li> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/HereditaryFactorsMacularDegeneration.pdf" target="_new">Heredity and Macular Degeneration</a><br> <br> </li> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/Macugen.pdf" target="_new">Macugen</a><br> <br> </li> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/LowVisionAidResources_Macular.pdf" target="_new">Low Vision Aid Resources</a><br> <br> </li> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/LowVisionOrganizations_Macular.pdf" target="_new">Low Vision Organizations</a> <br> <br> </li> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/PhotodynamicTherapy.pdf" target="_new">Photodynamic Therapy</a> <br> <br> </li> <li><a href="../../SubIndex/MDR_PDF_FactSheets/Macular%20Degeneration.pdf" target="_new">The Facts On Macular Degeneration</a> <br> <br> </li> </ol> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> Macular degeneration medical illustrations: </li> </ul> <ul> <blockquote> <p>1.<a href="AnatomyEye.htm" target="_new"> Anatomy of the Eye illustration.</a></p> <p> 2. <a href="NormalMacula.htm" target="_new">Cross-section of the Normal Macula.</a> </p> <p>3. <a href="DryMacularDegen.htm" target="_new">Illustration of Dry Macular Degeneration.</a></p> <p> 4. <a href="WetMacularDegen.htm" target="_new">Illustration of Wet Macular Degeneration.</a></p> <p> 5. <a href="Macular_ProgressionNEW.html" target="_new">The Progression of Macular Degeneration Symptoms As Seen Through the Eyes of the Patient. </a></p> <p>6. View an illustration of the <a href="Normal_Dry_Wet.htm" target="_new">Normal Macula Compared to Wet and Dry Macular Degeneration</a>.</p> </blockquote> </ul> <p>If you have questions about the research and science concerning macular degeneration, please fill out and submit the information on the <a href="#" onClick="JavaScript:window.open('https://commerce1.ahaf-commerce.org/ahaf/Forms/AHAF_RealLifeQuestions.asp','','scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,resizable=yes,height=600,width=690')">Real Life Questions</a> form. We will answer some of the questions, and the responses will be posted in the <a href="ma_RealLifeQuestions.htm" target="_top">What's New</a> section every other Wednesday. We are not medical doctors and therefore cannot make recommendations for treatment; only a physician can give personal medical advice. Your identity will not be posted with your question. </p> <p>New Informative Macular Degeneration Video </p> <table width="87%" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td><a href="../../whatsnew/MD_HollyfieldVideo.html">Dr. Joe G. Hollyfield Answers Important Questions About Macular Degeneration </a></td> </tr> </table> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The following topics can be found in this text-only section: statistics, diagnosis, medical illustrations, research updates, symptoms, what's new, healthy choices, risk factors, and Real Life Questions, new medications and treatments, genetic factors, and information about photodynamic therapy and macugen. </p> <p> </p> <p align="left"><font color="#FF0000" size="5">You are seeing this page because your your browser cannot view frames. The same information is provided in our <a href="../../text_index/text_macular/text_mmain.htm">macular degeneration no-frames </a>site. 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