Age-related macular degeneration: Updates for general practitioners.

Age and family history are the strongest risk factors, while smoking, poor diet and cardiovascular disease are key modifiable contributors.

General practitioners can examine the macula in at-risk adults, as well as encourage smoking cessation, a Mediterranean-style diet, regular exercise, and Age- Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) supplementation for intermediate disease.

Sudden distortion or vision loss requires urgent ophthalmology referral for possible neovascular AMD.