Understanding neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that affects the macula, the part of the eye that provides sharp, central vision needed for activities like reading.1,5

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is an advanced form of the disease that can cause rapid and severe vision loss if left untreated.6,7 It develops when new and abnormal blood vessels grow uncontrolled under the macula, causing swelling, bleeding and/or the formation of scar tissue.7

nAMD can limit a person’s ability to read, drive, see pictures and even recognise faces.1,8 People’s professional and social lives may be affected, potentially reducing income, increasing social isolation, and causing depression and anxiety disorders.8-11

Many people do not immediately recognise the symptoms of AMD, mistaking them for normal signs of ageing. This leads to more severe conditions such as nAMD and geographic atrophy.12,13 Symptoms to be aware of include:1,14-16

There are a number of risk factors associated with developing nAMD, which include:17,18

The current standard of care for nAMD is intravitreal (IVT) injections (injected directly into the eye) of VEGF inhibitors or dual VEGF/Ang-2 inhibitors.19-21 These treatments help to prevent development of new blood vessels and limit leakage from abnormal blood vessels in the eye, mostly under the retina.19-21

IVT anti-VEGF treatments only target one of the pathways that drive the development and progression of nAMD.19-21 Unfortunately, many patients do not fully respond to this treatment, lose response over time, or they show sub-optimal durability.20 Further, frequent IVT anti-VEGF eye injections – sometimes as often as monthly – are needed to maintain vision gains and anatomy, which can be challenging to maintain, potentially leading to undertreatment and worse outcomes.19