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Atrophy, Geographic

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Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology

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Synonyms

GA; Geographic atrophy

Definition

Well-defined area of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), outer retinal layer, and choriocapillaris atrophy developing secondary to non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Etiology

Retinal pighment epithelium (RPE) atrophy represents a downstream pathogenetic pathway in various retinal diseases (see “Differential Diagnosis”). In the elderly, it is most frequently associated with non-exudative AMD and it then terment geographic atrophy (GA). While various pathways may be involved, the precise pathogenesis in the context of AMD is yet unclear.

Clinical Presentation

Fundoscopically, GA appears as a sharply demarcated area with depigmentation and enhanced visualization of larger deep choroidal vessels. GA may occur unifocal or multifocal. The horizontal configuration may vary including roundish or oval to lobular patterns. Over time, GA enlarges in size, frequently sparing the fovea unitl late in the disease process for yet unknown...

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References

  • Aronow ME, Chew EY (2014) Age-related eye disease study 2: perspectives, recommendations, and unanswered questions. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 25(3):186–190

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Germany

    Moritz Lindner, Monika Fleckenstein, Steffen Schmitz-Valckenberg & Frank G. Holz

Authors
  1. Moritz Lindner
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  2. Monika Fleckenstein
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  3. Steffen Schmitz-Valckenberg
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  4. Frank G. Holz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frank G. Holz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Medical University of Wien Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Wien, Austria

    Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main Department of Ophthalmology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Thomas Kohnen

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Lindner, M., Fleckenstein, M., Schmitz-Valckenberg, S., Holz, F.G. (2014). Atrophy, Geographic. In: Schmidt-Erfurth, U., Kohnen, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_1125-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_1125-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35951-4

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