The College of Optometrists

what is geographic atrophy - im getting a bit confused

I think, but do check elsewhere, geographic atropy is pigment dispersion in paramac area. But you get letters back from hospital about corneal geographic changes as well

I would use geographic atrophy to describe an area of atrophic macular scarring from dry armd. This can vary markedly in appearance from a large very pale obvious scar, to much more subtle pigmentary changes. It tends to describe a large irregularly shaped area of atrophy, (compared to disciform scarring which is circular/oval in shape.)

A descriptive term. A large (on geographic scale - relative to the eye) area of atrophy or wasting away of a tissue(s).

Usually used when refering to advanced dry AMD when the atrophy is of the RPE and choriocappilaris.

geographic atrophy from my understanding is joining up mulstiple soft drusen which can lead to geographic atrophy - check kanski

the wasting away is often pigmented, which can show a degenerative (hence dry amd has pigment as well as retinal defects)rather than an infective or inflamation (which can be pale or white).

Confluent soft drusen is a risk of wet amd.