Oxidative Damage and Macular Degeneration

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the current evidence of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its translation into clinical medicine. AMD is a degenerative disease of the retina, leading to loss of central vision. Indeed it is the foremost cause of blindness in the developed world. Although AMD is a complex multifactorial disease, oxidative stress is likely to be a key instigator in its pathogenesis. An accumulation of reactive oxygen species over one’s lifetime and a gradual decline in the antioxidant capacity may contribute to macular damage. Evidence for this includes studies that demonstrate the presence of lower systemic antioxidant levels in association with AMD, although systemic levels of reactive oxygen species are not correlated. There is also some evidence that sequence variations in antioxidant genes may be associated with AMD, especially in animal models. Progression of AMD can be reduced with oral antioxidant supplementation, and further compounds with antioxidant properties are being investigated both in vitro and in vivo. In future, genetic manipulation may provide a more robust mechanism for conferring antioxidant protection to a susceptible individual.