Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of legal blindness in people over the age of 55 in the US. The cause of AMD has not been determined, but it is clearly a complex disease with multiple environmental and genetic risk factors. AMD research focuses on the identification and evaluation of genetic risk factors and the interactions of these risk factors with environmental influences. Our hypothesis is that genetic risk factors are critical to the development of AMD. These genetic risk factors then interact with environmental factors (diet, smoking, etc.) to trigger the development of the disease as well as to determine how fast the disease progresses. Identification of these genetic and environmental risk factors is the first step towards earlier detection, prevention, and in the future, better treatments.