Which form of macular degeneration is most common?

• A. Wet form
• B. Dry form (atrophy of retinal pigmented epithelium)
• C. Neovascular form
• D. Vascular form

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that there are two main forms of macular degeneration, and the dry form is more common than the wet form. Dry macular degeneration involves gradual thinning and atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the overlying photoreceptors, often with drusen deposits, which leads to slow, progressive central vision loss. The wet form, by contrast, is driven by abnormal blood vessel growth (neovascularization) under the retina that leaks fluid and blood, causing more sudden and severe vision loss but occurs less frequently. Because the majority of cases are the dry form, characterized specifically by atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium, that form is the most common.