Emerging therapeutic options in age-related macular degeneration.

Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs currently represents the standard of treatment for exudative age-related macular degeneration. Several therapeutic options including steroids, inhibitors of complement factors, anti-platelet-derived growth factor agents, new anti-VEGF drugs, designed ankyrin repeat proteins, sustained drug delivery devices as an alternative to intravitreal injections and encapsulated cell technology are the objects of several studies and trials worldwide in association with anti-VEGF therapy or not. Expectations are that such efforts will help overcome limitations of current therapy with anti-VEGF, extending the duration of effects and hopefully contributing to the regression of neovascular lesions.