BrightFocus Foundation

A buildup of lipids in the eye can lead to inflammation that can drive age-related macular degeneration (AMD). BrightFocus-funded researcher Neetu Kushwah, PhD, is studying a new receptor target, RORa, that could be an important player in this process. This work could identify new potential targets for slowing or preventing AMD, including uncovering biomarkers to help detect AMD early or identify people who face a high risk of developing the disease.

Could people who take a commonly used treatment for Parkinson’s disease also gain protection against age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? The effort to answer that question was part of more than three decades of research that uncovered a link between the Parkinson’s drug, called L-DOPA, and a reduced or delayed risk of developing AMD.

Advances have been made in treatments for macular degeneration since this article was published. To learn about light therapy for macular degeneration, click here. New treatment strategies in development aim to reduce the need for frequent eye injections in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Gene therapies could offer hope for long-term control of wet AMD with one-time treatments.