Rationale and background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common degenerative disease of the macula and the most common cause of legal blindness in the Western world. AMD is a disease of the elderly affecting 10% of individuals aged 65 to 74 years and 30% of those aged 75 to 85 years. Two forms of AMD can be distinguished. The dry form is more benign accounting for 90% of all AMD cases, but only for 10% of cases of blindness due to AMD. On the other hand wet AMD affects only 10% of AMD patients. However, it is more aggressive and rapidly progresses. Wet AMD (wAMD) accounts for 80% of cases of severe visual impairment and represents the majority of cases of legal blindness. Thus, wet or neovascular AMD is a disease with a great impact on both visual acuity and patients' quality of life.