NKW for Age Related Macular Degeneration: 18-24 June 2007

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the commonest causes of certifiable visual impairment in the UK. There have been significant developments recently in our understanding of its underlying cause; in the options for therapeutic and surgical intervention; and in detection and diagnosis through emerging technology for retinal imaging; all of which have transformed the clinical management of a patient with AMD.

The AMD National Knowledge Week serves to provide a collection of the evidence and information on these recent developments in the clinical management of AMD. This is presented through a number of topic summaries reflecting aspects of the care pathway, including the patients’ perspective. Each summary is presented with on-line links wherever possible to cited references for current evidence and new knowledge (systematic reviews, primary research, and patient information). Printable versions of topic summaries are available, and of all the Specialist Libraries, the Eyes and Vision Specialist Library uniquely provides a low vision accessible web version of its NKWs.

Topics covered by the AMD NKW include:

Epidemiology - Dr Jennifer Evans

Genetics – Mr Andrew Webster

Emerging technology: Retinal imaging for diagnosis - Ms Samantha Mann

• Ocular coherence tomography (OCT)
• Auto-fluorescence (AF)

Developments in treatment:

• Therapeutic intervention : anti-VEGF therapy - Mr Yit Yang
• Surgical intervention : macular translocation – Mr Lyndon da Cruz

Low vision aids and AMD - Jane Macnaughton

Living with AMD - Macular Disease Society / EVSL Management Team

Freely available from 18^th June 2007: www.library.nhs.uk/eyes