Impact of Early and Late Age-Related Macular Degeneration on Quality of Life

Abstract

The impact of early and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on quality of life (QoL) has been comprehensively assessed to date (Lamoureux et al. 2011; Wong et al. 2004; Espallargues et al. 2005; Finger et al. 2011a; Mangione et al. 1999). Early stages of the disease are associated with little functional loss (i.e. normal visual acuity) and few symptoms. However, the prognosis is poor for most patients affected by either atrophic or neovascular late-stage AMD. In the late-stage condition, central vision can be severely impaired, leading to a central scotoma. The implications of this level of visual impairment on daily functioning activities include inability to read, watch TV, recogni..