[Age related macular degeneration: a review of anti-angiogenic treatments].

In Western countries, age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual loss in people aged 65 and over. Laser photocoagulation has been shown to be beneficial in patients with extra- or juxta-foveal classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV), but the majority of patients with exudative maculopathy have occult or subfoveal CNV. Laser photocoagulation is plagued by recurrences, which occur in more than 50% of cases. Because of the limited efficacy of laser photocoagulation and the small number of patients who are eligible for treatment, investigators are attempting to develop new modalities to treat CNV. These modalities can be classified into three major categories: surgery, photodynamic and pharmacological treatments. The general mechanism, the regulation of ocular angiogenesis, and current anti-angiogenic treatments are the subject of this review of the recent literature.