How to Classify AREDS

Age Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS) are studies that classify eye diseases. The classifications vary in the studies, but they are often based on the appearance and severity of the eye disease. Classifying the diseases in an AREDS helps doctors determine appropriate treatment for various eye diseases in older patients.

Instructions

• 1

  Look at the appearance of the eye disease. Pictures are used to capture the appearance of the eye and show the progression of the disease if being studied over a period of time. Study the appearance of the disease.

• 2

  Study the severity of the disease. Eye disease severity will differ with each patient. In age-related eye diseases, such as cataracts, the common factors determining the severity of the disease include the age of the individual, the time when the disease started and the treatments the individual has used to combat the disease.

• 3

  Compare the eyes. In AREDS, the study not only looks at the individual eye appearance and severity, but also comparative pictures. The comparative pictures show specific levels of severity as a base for the progression of the disease. This helps determine the appropriate treatments based on prior knowledge of the disease.