Review:Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50 years old. Every ten years after the age of 50, the prevalence of this disease increases exponentially. Many different factors contribute to the development of AMD, including genetic, environmental, and metabolic functions. Besides smoking, abnormal blood pressure and an unhealthy diet low in fruits and vegetables, many other studies conclude that similar inflammatory and oxidative processes seen in other age-related diseases also play a key role in the development of AMD. This disease affects the central areas of the retina and choroid. In turn, central vision is impaired while peripheral vision is generally not lost. AMD presents in two different forms, the earlier non-neovascular (dry) form and the more advanced neovascular (wet) form. Each form has its specific pathology and unique characteristics that distinguish them. Fatty and protein deposits called drusens may be the primary risk factor in understanding the pathology, progression, and treatment of dry AMD. Once more advanced wet AMD is diagnosed, pathology and treatment is targeted around the formation and destruction of abnormal blood vessels, characteristic of wet AMD of the eye. The increasing prevalence of AMD has prompted further investigation into factors that can be modulated to prevent the onset or halt the progression of AMD. Early diagnosis is very important because that is when an ophthalmologist can detect the first signs of the disease using ultrasound or angiography. This text will address the pathology of drusens and the role of inflammation and oxidation in the aged eye. By better understanding these processes, more effective treatment and prevention approaches...... middle of paper ......hew, Shane. “Age-related macular degeneration.” Kerala Journal of Ophthalmology: n. page. Web.13. Moore, Kathryn J. and Ira Tabas. “Macrophages in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.” Cell 145.3 (2011): 341-355. Print.14. Nicolosi, RJ "Consuming 2 and 4 egg yolks/day for 5 weeks increases macular pigment concentrations in older adults with low macular pigment taking cholesterol-lowering statins." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 90: 1272-1279. Internet. May 1, 2014.15. Sépici-Dincel, Aylin. “Choroidal neovascular membrane in age-related macular degeneration is associated with increased interleukin-6.” International Journal of Gerontology: 101-104. Internet. May 1, 2014.16. Wang, Yadong. “An anti-angiogenic reverse thermal gel as a drug delivery system for wet age-related macular degeneration.” Macromolecular Bioscience: 464-469. Internet. May 1 2014.