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Back a breakthrough in macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of severe sight loss in older adults. There are over 600,000 people in the UK with sight loss caused by the two types of macular degeneration and this number will more than double by 2050.

There are currently no treatments for dry macular degeneration which accounts for ninety percent of cases. While there are some treatments by injection for wet macular degeneration this condition continues to have a huge impact on people’s sight.

Our goal is for a new treatment for macular degeneration in the next decade.

That’s why we are currently investing in 22 projects researching macular degeneration to help find new and more effective treatments for this condition. We have also partnered with the Macular Society, Blind Veterans and Scottish War Blinded to form Action Against Age-Related Macular Degeneration and together we are funding further research in this area.
 

Some of our research into macular degeneration:


Can boosting the natural repair processes in blood vessels help treat sight loss?
Scientists at Queen’s University Belfast are studying the role of damage to tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye in a type of age-related macular degeneration. They hope to discover new ways of boosting the capacity for these vessels to repair themselves – and so, prevent or slow down sight loss for patients.
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Eye drops could replace injections for patients with macular degeneration
Researchers from the University of Birmingham and Bristol are investigating a new immunotherapy treatment for wet age related macular degeneration that can be given in eye drop form rather than the usual method of eye injection. 
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AI identifies drugs to reduce sight loss from macular degeneration
The initial results from an artificial intelligence project show a number of existing drugs have the potential to reduce sight loss from age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss.
 
 
Research identifies new genes in age-related macular degeneration 
Fight for Sight funded research has identified new genes linked to the development of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the UK. 
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New test detects early signs of macular disease
Fight for Sight funded research has resulted in the development of a new eye test to spot the first stages of sight loss in age-related macular degeneration
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Find out more about age related macular degeneration Return to main research page