Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common, chronic and progressive degenerative disorder of the macula that affects older individuals and features a progressive loss of central vision as a result of abnormalities in the macular region of the retina. The progression of this pathology can be divided into early and late types, with different symptoms: early-stage AMD includes clinical signs such as drusen and abnormalities of the retinal pigment epithelium. Late-stage AMD can be neovascular (also known as wet or exudative) or non-neovascular (known as atrophic, dry, or non-exudative). Late AMD results in loss of central visual acuity, leading to severe and permanent visual impairment and legal blindness, which has a major impact on the quality of life and functional independence. By 2020, the number of people with AMD globally is expected to be around 200 million, increasing to nearly 300 million by 2040, thus posing a major public health problem with substantial socioeconomic implications. Many risk factors have been identified for AMD. Age is by far the strongest risk factor, with nearly all late AMD cases occurring in people older than 60, followed by non-genetic and environmental factors, such as smoking, diet and alcohol consumption (with less robust evidence).