Age-related macular disease: how to assess the retina using scanning laser techniques?

Age-related macular disease (AMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness among the elderly in Western nations. The magnitude of the problem will undoubtedly grow, as age is a significant risk factor and the number of people aged 65 and over is projected to increase. The most frequent cause of severe visual loss associated with AMD is irreversible degeneration of the overlying neurosensory retina, caused by the growth of choroidal neovascularization or, alternatively, the development of geographic atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium. Today, we are able to image the human retina in vivo. Recently developed imaging techniques provide better assessment of retinal pathology than conventional ophthalmoscopy alone. This overview presents the most recent devices available for retinal imaging, which mainly exploit laser technology such as scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Its basic principles, as well as its characteristics for imaging and functional assessment of the retina, are described. Lastly, potential benefits for clinical routine, rehabilitation strategies in AMD, and future research aspects are discussed.