How does geographic atrophy (GA) progress if the fellow eye has early or intermediate dry AMD?

Geographic atrophy (GA) is a form of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) characterized by the loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors, leading to vision loss. When considering the progression of GA in the context of a fellow eye that exhibits early or intermediate dry AMD, it is understood that the presence of AMD in one eye can influence the progression of GA in the other eye.

Research indicates that the presence of early or intermediate dry AMD in the fellow eye may actually slow the progression of GA compared to scenarios where there is no AMD in the fellow eye. This slower rate of progression could be attributed to a variety of factors, including potential compensatory mechanisms in the retina or genetic factors that may provide a protective effect.

As such, individuals with GA in one eye and early or intermediate dry AMD in the other eye may experience less aggressive progression of their geographic atrophy compared to those who have more advanced disease states or no AMD in the fellow eye at all. This insight is important for clinical practice, offering a better understanding of how to monitor and manage patients with this condition over time.