Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - Dry

The term age-related maculopathy (ARM) refers to the pre-clinical form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), before visual acuity is affected.

There may be drusen and pigment abnormalities of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retina. Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) refers to the later stages of the disease, when vision is affected but without neovascular complications, and is also referred to as atrophic or non-exudative AMD. Loss of central vision in AMD occurs following the deposition of material in Bruch's membrane (drusen), beneath the RPE.

Vision is not affected unless there is an associated loss of pigment and atrophy of the RPE, degeneration of the choriocapillaris and photoreceptor atrophy. Ultimately, a geographic atrophy may develop.