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Invited Commentary
May 20, 2021

Therapeutic Margin for Geographic Atrophy: The Race Between Longevity and Disease Progression

Author Affiliations
  • 1Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California
  • 2Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
  • 3Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles
JAMA Ophthalmol. 2021;139(7):751-752. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2021.1414

Effective treatment for geographic atrophy (GA) associated with age-related macular degeneration remains an elusive and unmet need in ophthalmology. A number of potential therapeutic agents1,2 are currently under evaluation at various stages of investigation including phase 3 clinical trials. Even if these agents prove to be effective, it appears that they can at best slow but not stop the progression of the disease. However, slowing progression may be a remarkable and meaningful outcome if the atrophy is nonfoveal and the rate of progression is slowed sufficiently compared with the patient’s longevity.

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