Macular degeneration is a blinding disease with huge socioeconomic costs. This book presents a comprehensive overview of macular degeneration, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Chapters address such topics as the disease state of macular degeneration, diagnosis and management of AMD, treatment considerations, and vision rehabilitation. It is a useful resource for both novice readers and experts in the field.

Introductory Chapter: The Contribution of Cohort Studies to Health Sciences.

Degeneration of the macula is the leading cause of legal blindness in people over fifty-five. The macula is used for most acute and detailed vision -- reading, driving, watching television, precise work, and recognising faces. However, this weakening of central vision does not necessarily affect colour and peripheral vision. Macular degeneration generally takes place over a gradual period and at different rates in each eye. Its causes are still unclear, but there exist two main types. 'Dry' degeneration occurs when the macular tissues of the retina thin and disturb pigmentation, and 'wet' includes bleeding and scar tissue. Though macular degeneration is usually age-related, there are forms that affect younger individuals, but the reasons behind those cases are not yet known. This new book provides state-of-the-art research results on this debilitating condition.

Recent Advances in Ophthalmology focuses on developments in ophthalmology, including therapy, keratotomy, phototoxicity, and retinopathy. The compilation first offers information on the therapy of herpes simplex, anterior segment surgery, and use of viscous and viscoelastic substances in ophthalmology. Topics include systemic antiviral agents and ocular disease; influence of new instruments and technology; criteria for the selection of viscous or viscoelastic material; and indications for the use of viscous substances. The text then ponders on radial keratotomy, intraocular lenses, and treatment of congenital cataracts. The publication takes a look at ocular phototoxicity and vitreous surgery, as well as proliferative diabetic retinopathy, posterior penetrating trauma, effects of non-ionizing radiation on biological systems, body temperature and light damage, and retinal photodamage. The text also touches on the management of diabetic retinopathy; treatment of malignant melanomas of the posterior uvea; and macular disease with serious retinal detachment. The compilation is highly recommended for ophthalmologists and readers interested in the developments in ophthalmology.

Knowledge of retinal diseases has radically changed over the past 10 years with the development of both new techniques and instrumentation, with improvements in surgical machines and diagnostic tools. This book reports the latest developments in retinal diseases, from pathogenesis to diagnosis, and both medical and surgical approaches in the management of retinal diseases. The core of the book focuses on developments and new perspectives in the treatment of some retinal diseases. It also discusses the pathophysiology and treatment of retinal diseases, taking biological disease markers into consideration. The indications for surgery have expanded dramatically and inoperable conditions have become amenable to surgical treatment. As such, the book also provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in the surgical approach to many vitreoretinal diseases with the latest developments in surgery of the retina that enable improved surgical outcomes.