We’re funding research to better understand, diagnose, prevent, and treat age-related macular degeneration. But what is it, and why is it important that we tackle this condition, which causes vision loss?
What is age-related macular degeneration?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the UK’s leading cause of vision loss in people over 50. It affects the macula — the part of the eye that helps us see fine detail, recognise faces and read.
-
- 600,000 people
- in the UK have vision loss caused by age-related macular degeneration. This number is expected to more than double by 2050.
Why is it important to invest in scientific research into AMD?
There are two main types of AMD:
- Dry AMD – the more common form. It develops slowly as light-sensing cells in the retina stop working properly.
- Wet AMD – less common but more severe. Abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak fluid, damaging central vision.
Discover more about age related macular degeneration in our A to Z of eye conditions
Are there treatments for age related macular degeneration?
Treatments do exist for wet AMD, but they don’t work for everyone.
There is currently no treatment for dry AMD. That’s why research into causes, prevention and new therapies is so vital.
We’ve consistently invested in scientific research into age-related macular degeneration.
Read about projects that have completed and what scientists are working on today.
Funded research into age-related macular degeneration
How can we deliver more realistic lab models for studying age-related macular degeneration?
To understand age-related macular degeneration, we need good models of the human retina. But traditional lab models have limitations.
Professor Lako’s team is creating tiny lab-grown retinas or ‘retinal organoids’. These models are special because they include blood vessels and immune cells. Both play important roles in age-related macular degeneration, but are absent from many existing models.
With more realistic models, researchers can:
- Study how AMD develops in human-like tissue
- Test new treatments more accurately
- Reduce reliance on animal models
Why do some wet AMD treatments stop working?
Many people with wet AMD receive anti-VEGF injections. These can slow vision loss, but not for everyone. Some people never respond. Others stop responding over time.
Professor Chen’s research looks at why. Her team is studying the role of immune cells, particularly macrophages (white blood cells), to understand how they might interfere with treatment.
If we understand why treatments fail, we can:
- Develop alternatives for people left without options
- Match people to the treatments most likely to help them
How do we stop the harmful build up of deposits before damage occurs in the retina?
In AMD, small protein and lipid deposits called drusen build up beneath the retina.
Dr Troeberg’s research focuses on how retinal cells normally recycle proteins, and what happens when that process breaks down.
Dr Troeberg’s team is exploring whether problems with protein handling cause drusen to form and whether those pathways could be targeted with future treatments.
By understanding how the recycling system works in the retina and how they are disrupted in AMD new treatments for the condition could be developed.
What are the best treatments for a rare complication of age-related macular degeneration?
We are supporting a clinical trial that could create better options for people who experience a rare complication of wet age related macular degeneration.
Abnormal new blood vessels in the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) cause wet AMD; these unhealthy vessels can leak blood or fluids (hence, ‘wet’).
Left untreated, the damage and vision loss caused by their growth is usually permanent.
Macular haemorrhage, or bleeding, is a rare but serious complication of wet AMD, and there are various treatment options available. The trial will help us understand which works best and which could lead to better outcomes, with the best interest of the patients in mind.
How might we protect retinal cells from stress and damage?
This study focused on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, which are essential support cells that keep the retina healthy and are heavily affected in AMD. When RPE cells fail, vision loss occurs. Protecting them could slow or prevent disease progression.
Dr Al-Kassas explored how these cells respond to stress and inflammation, and how boosting their natural defences might help them survive longer.
What is the immune system's role in age-related macular degeneration?
Professor Teeling’s study explored how inflammation and immune responses contribute to retinal damage. Professor Teeling’s study showed how AMD isn’t just about ageing, but also about how the immune system behaves in the eye.
Is there a cure for age-related macular degeneration?
There is still no cure for AMD. By funding work that spans early understanding, disease mechanisms, and treatment response, we’re helping science move forward with purpose.
We are funding the bright minds that are putting change in sight for those living with vision loss. So, we can Save Sight. Change Lives.
