Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD,  is the most common cause of vision loss in the developed world and 2.5 million Canadians currently live with it.

Dr. Karim Hammamji, a retina specialist with the University of Montreal, explains what it is.

“With the same types of machines that we are using to diagnose, we are able to algorithms that use AI to detect some features in the scans that will help us know which patient is going to progress more quickly and which patient needs to be followed more closely.”

There are two types of AMD. The dry type which gradually gets worse, while the wet type usually progresses faster due to a buildup of fluid on the eye.

Hammamji said injections in the eye are the current treatment for both types of AMD, but that advancements in some of the medications mean injections may not be needed as often.

Hear more about AMD, how it’s diagnosed and treated, and risk factors of the condition at thompsononline.ca.