To establish a process to evaluate and standardize a state-of-the-art nomenclature for reporting neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) data. Consensus meeting. An international panel of retina specialists, imaging and image reading center experts, and ocular pathologists. During several meetings organized under the auspices of the Macula Society, an international study group discussed and codified a set nomenclature framework for classifying the subtypes of neovascular AMD and associated lesion components. A consensus classification of neovascular AMD. The study group created a standardized working definition of AMD. The components of neovascular AMD were defined and subclassified. Disease consequences of macular neovascularization were delineated. The framework of a consensus nomenclature system, a definition of AMD, and a delineation of the subtypes of neovascular AMD were developed. Establishing a uniform set of definitions will facilitate comparison of diverse patient groups and different studies. The framework presented is modified and updated readily, processes that are anticipated to occur on a periodic basis. The study group suggests that the consensus standards outlined in this article be used in future reported studies of neovascular AMD and clinical practice.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the United States.¹ Despite widespread use of highly effective intravitreal injections of drugs that inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor for neovascular AMD,² there is still no effective therapy for the atrophic form of AMD. We have demonstrated that the original Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formulation consisting of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, and zinc reduced the 5-year risk for developing late AMD in persons at risk by an estimated 25%.³ This beneficial treatment effect, mostly for reducing the risk for progression to neovascular AMD, persisted for the 5 years following cessation of the controlled, randomized clinical trial.⁴ Observational studies suggest that higher dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin and/or omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are associated with a decreased risk for developing late AMD.^5-20 Lutein had been considered for use in the original AREDS formulation because of this reported association. However, lutein was not commercially available at the start of AREDS. Lutein and zeaxanthin are of interest because they are the major components of the macular pigment and may serve a variety of functions including filtering of presumably damaging blue and ultraviolet light and providing antioxidant capability.²¹