What is Geographic Atrophy (GA)

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Geographic atrophy is a condition where the cells in a specific part of the retina, called the macula, die off, leading to vision loss. The macula is responsible for sharp, central vision, and when it is affected, it can be difficult to read, drive or recognize faces.

The term "geographic" refers to the shape of the atrophy, which can appear as round or oval patches on the retina, much like a map. The affected areas can vary in size, and they are usually located in the center of the retina, which is called the fovea.

These patches typically start near the center of the vision and progress around the center, and then finally closing in to the very center, causing significant loss of vision. Geographic atrophy can cause severe vision loss and legal blindness.

Geographic atrophy is most commonly associated with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is a progressive eye disease that affects people as they get older. Its common to think that Wet AMD is the source of blindness in people with AMD, but actually advanced Dry AMD with Geographic atrophy can also cause legal blindness as well.

While there is no cure for geographic atrophy, we are very excited about the newly approved medication for Geographic Atrophy, which is proven to slow down the progression of the disease and preserve vision for as long as possible.