Subspecialties Basic & Translational Research, Retina

Benchmarking Dry AMD

What does analysis of the last five years of dry AMD literature tell us about the priorities of the field and its major contributors?

Roisin McGuigan | 03/03/2017

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries and the third-leading cause in developing countries. Dry AMD, unlike the neovascular, wet form, has no effective therapies available today – bad news, especially as it comprises about 85–90 percent of all AMD cases. Then again, a number of potentially disease-modifying therapies are currently under clinical evaluation, so this situation may change in the future.

In 2015, we benchmarked the PubMed-listed AMD literature as a whole (1), and we’ve also reviewed the entirety of the AMD trial data that’s available on clinicaltrials.gov (2). This month, we set out to specifically assess the dry AMD literature.

To provide insight into the past and predictions for the future of the field, a series of metrics were applied to the last five years of published literature.

Who has published the most?
Who has had the greatest impact?
What are the big topics being discussed?
Is this knowledge available online (for free or for a fee)?

PubMed was searched for dry AND “macular degeneration”, with results limited to the last five years, and the data were analyzed in Microsoft Excel 2013.

Subspecialties Basic & Translational Research, Retina

M Hillen, “Benchmarking AMD”, The Ophthalmologist, 17, 38–40 (2015). Available at: top.txp.to/issues/0315/501/. Accessed January 23, 2017.
M Hillen, R McGuigan, “AMD Clinical Trials”, The Ophthalmologist, 22, 38–40 (2015). Available at: top.txp.to/issues/0815/501/. Accessed January 23, 2017.

Roisin McGuigan

I have an extensive academic background in the life sciences, having studied forensic biology and human medical genetics in my time at Strathclyde and Glasgow Universities. My research, data presentation and bioinformatics skills plus my ‘wet lab’ experience have been a superb grounding for my role as a deputy editor at Texere Publishing. The job allows me to utilize my hard-learned academic skills and experience in my current position within an exciting and contemporary publishing company.