Macular dystrophies mimicking age-related macular degeneration.

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly population in the Western world. AMD is a clinically heterogeneous disease presenting with drusen, pigmentary changes, geographic atrophy and/or choroidal neovascularization. Due to its heterogeneous presentation, it can be challenging to distinguish AMD from several macular diseases that can mimic the features of AMD. This clinical overlap may potentially lead to misdiagnosis. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of AMD and the macular dystrophies that can mimic AMD. The appropriate use of clinical and genetic analysis can aid the clinician to establish the correct diagnosis, and to provide the patient with the appropriate prognostic information. An overview is presented of overlapping and distinguishing clinical features.

• Authors: Nicole T M Saksens, Monika Fleckenstein, Steffen Schmitz-Valckenberg, Frank G Holz, Anneke I den Hollander, Jan E E Keunen, Camiel J F Boon, Carel B Hoyng
• Journal: Progress in retinal and eye research (Prog Retin Eye Res) Vol. 39 Pg. 23-57 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 1873-1635 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24291520 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Diagnosis, Differential
• Humans
• Macular Degeneration (diagnosis, genetics)
• Retinal Diseases (diagnosis, genetics)