An overview of quality of life and visual outcomes in AMD.

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in high income countries and third most common cause of blindness worldwide. This chapter provides an overview of existing literature pertaining to the ways in which AMD impacts clinical measures of visual function, quality of life, and performance of everyday tasks. As well as being used in clinics, some of the tests described in this chapter have the potential to be piloted in patients' homes as self-monitoring tools, or as patient-centred outcome measures in clinical trials for new treatments in AMD. Moreover, the research findings reported in this literature review should help clinicians with patient management and expectations, and should to inform future patient, public and professional education on AMD.