Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (ARM) is a progressive late onset disease affecting central vision. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness among older adults in developed countries, and with the aging population, the problem is increasing. Current treatment options by endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors – anti-VEGF therapy are limited to the late stage of the disease, when central vision is already under great threat, and even new treatments make little impact on the rate of blindness. Monthly intravitreal anti-VEGF injections with systemic exposure to anti-VEGF will be replaced by new drugs taken in a non-invasive way. 3–hydroxy–3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors, generically termed statins are the most commonly used lipid lowering drugs. The objective of this review is to evaluate the evidence and discuss the rationale behind the recent suggestions that HMG CoA reductase inhibitors may be useful in the prevention and the treatment of age-related macular degeneration

Key words: Atherosclerosis, age-related macular degeneration, pathophysiology, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, pleiotropic effects.