What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Within ophthalmology, focus is ever increasing on global trends in ocular care and socioeconomic determinants of vision outcomes. Worldwide, uncorrected refractive error and cataract continue to disproportionately affect persons in low-income and middle-income countries. Increasingly, smartphone technology and artificial intelligence are impacting screening and analysis of patients with suspected conditions such as strabismus, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Building upon large-scale treatment strategies, management of leading infectious ocular conditions worldwide, such as trachoma and onchocerciasis, has yielded remarkable improvements in community health. In terms of pediatric conditions, the world is currently experiencing a “third wave” of retinopathy of prematurity, whereas retinoblastoma continues to demonstrate differences in both vision outcomes and overall survival between patients in low-income and high-income countries. Finally, many conditions which do not threaten vision remain major reasons for patients to seek care in countries of any income status.