Classification of AMD

The classification of AMD most commonly used in clinical practice and in clinical and epidemiological studies is theAREDSwhich distinguishes AWD into 4 Categories:
a) Category 1 or absent
b) Category 2 or early form (Early AMD)
c) Category 3 or intermediate form
d) Category 4 or advanced form.
The universally recognised classification today, however, is theInternational Age-Related Macular Degeneration Epidemiological Study Group which divides the pathology into two phases:
1) Age Related Maculopathy (ARM), the earliest phase, characterised by soft and/or hard drusen and EPR abnormalities
2) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), late phase characterised by
a) Geographical atrophy of the EPR and choriocapillaris.
Such alterations fall under the 'dry form"of AMD, usually causing a modest visual impairment.
b) Mneovascular (exudative) aculopathy, characterised by choroidal neovascularisation.
Le choroidal neovascularisations (CNVs) in turn can be classified:
1) according to fluorangiographic appearance: a) classical form; b) occult form
2) according to location: Extrafoveal CNV, Iuxtafoveal CNV, Subfoveal CNV.
3) according to the proportions of the lesion components: predominantly classical CNV; minimally classical CNV; occult CNV.
4) Based on Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICG), two subgroups are distinguished: polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) e retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP).